Queensland Fishing Monthly - October 2016 by Fishing Monthly

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October 2016, Vol. 28 No. 12

Contents NORTHERN NEW SOUTH WALES Ballina 20 Yamba 22 Iluka 23 SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND Tweed Heads 24 Southern Gold Coast 26 Gold Coast Canals 28 Gold Coast 30 Jumpinpin 32 Southern Bay 34 Brisbane 36 Brisbane Offshore 38 Northern Bay 40 Caloundra 41 Noosa 42 CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Hervey Bay 46 Rainbow Beach 46 Fraser Coast 47 Lake Monduran 48 Bundaberg 48 1770 50 Gladstone 51 Rockhampton 52 Gladstone Harbour 52 Stanage Bay 53 Yeppoon 53 Mackay 54

From the Editor’s Desk... GREEN PAPER COMMENTS CLOSED Thanks to all readers who gave their opinions to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries about the Green Paper and the opportunity for wholesale fisheries management reform. I think that collectively, the Queensland fishing media (QFM, Bush and Beach and Fish and Boat magazines) presented a pretty unified message about what we wanted as recreational anglers: to have more fish in the water. I did get to talk with plenty of anglers over this time and there were very few who disagreed with the idea that we should be aiming for something higher than ‘sustainable’ as a stock level moving forward. 60% of original

stock sounded pretty good to us. And, of course, the inevitable call for a Recreational Fishing Licence again raised its head. It’s not that we simply want to pay another fee to government, it’s the fact that collectively, the money can do some pretty awesome things for the fisheries that we love to look after. The message was loud and clear. We are happy to have a licence fee if the money gets allocated towards the fishery (if it goes into consolidated revenue, forget it). The Stocked Impoundment Permit (SIP) scheme is a living, breathing example of how it can succeed. INAUGURAL GONE FISHING DAY Yep – we’ve finally got one! The first ever Gone

Fishing Day is happening on 16 October, 2016. Publicised and recognised nationally, it’s a great opportunity to not only go and wet a line, but to take someone new and introduce them to the experience of catching a fish. And you can even win great prizes if you take the time to register. Mr Allan Hansard, the National Co-coordinator of Australia’s first Gone Fishing Day, is very excited. “What started as a conversation between two anglers waiting for a bite has now grown into a national

celebration of Australia’s largest leisure sporting activity with Federal and State Governments, fishing clubs, tackle stores, and recreational fishers all supporting the day,” he said. “Gone Fishing Day will be a truly national event with activities happening from Hobart to Darwin and from Sydney to Perth, including kids fishing days, family fishing days, fishing tournaments of all kinds and fishing club events, in addition to many Australians heading out for a fish with family and friends. “It costs nothing to take part in what we hope is Australia’s biggest outdoor event, by registering that you will be going fishing on Gone Fishing Day at www.gonefishingday.org. “Make your rod count!”

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Rick Clark with a long-nose emperor caught on an X-Rap Subwalk at Marion Reef, on a trip with Norval Charters. A Nicole Penfold image.

OCTOBER 2016

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Scenery, fishing and the Hinchinbrook channel BRISBANE

Justin Willmer Find me on Facebook at Yaks On

Anglers often keep a handful of locations that inspire them and draw them back, fuel their daydreaming, recharge their soul and sooth their itchy casting finger. Whether

venture into tropical north Queensland. Hinchinbrook Channel separates the mainland from the spectacular Hinchinbrook Island, and extends approximately 50km from Oyster Point, south of Cardwell. For those less familiar with the region, Cardwell is about

One thing that keeps drawing me back to the region is myriad species that can be encountered across varied environments, from mangrove creeks and flats, to reef edges, rocky headlands and bluewater. We’ve had sessions popping trevally and coral trout from headlands and reef edges in the morning,

A laydown, green and leafy structure – what are you waiting for?

Downsizing to the ZMan 2.5” Slim SwimZ produced the goods in the drains. it’s just the amazing fishing or a combination of this and the scenery, serenity, wildlife, family history and good memories, these destinations see us planning months ahead, accumulating a few new toys and meeting around the BBQ to discuss the finer details of the adventure. There are two locations like this for me – the largest sand island in the world and heritage listed Fraser Island, and the spectacular Hinchinbrook Channel. Let’s journey to the latter, load our gear and

171km north of Townsville. Cardwell and Lucinda are popular destinations for southern anglers, with plenty of accommodation options, including caravan parks, supply shops for fuel, ice and food, and launching facilities. How spectacular is the Hinchinbrook Channel? To give you an indication, it’s protected within the Hinchinbrook Island National Park, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area – it’s pretty special.

then came sneaking back for a few barra and jacks around the mangrove prop roots and snags. This was followed by an afternoon session on a massive school of tarpon, rolling on the surface, and then wrapped up by anchoring for a sunset session with live and dead baits, chasing fingermark, grunter and blue salmon. Like any location, it’s not always easy. You need to consider tides, wind, recent rainfall and other environmental and seasonal variables. The winter offers

There’s a handful of fun size trevally, and plenty of by-catch species. 10

OCTOBER 2016

They’re not all big, but they’re always fun. more stable weather, mild temperatures, a few less bugs, but take your bug spray, and a mixed bag of species. Cooler temperatures can slow the barramundi and mangrove jack bite down a bit. The other challenge we often encounter on these adventures is choosing which gear to take, without taking everything in the shed! The minimum fishing luggage, if fishing Cardwell or Lucinda, should include a light, medium and heavy spin combo, or light and medium baitcast combo if you prefer. Add a spin combo that you can use to throw a popper or stickbait, troll a large hardbody or jig a big plastic. If you’re focused on the mangroves and snags, for barramundi and jacks, then you may choose to leave out the larger spin combo. In terms of line and leader, we fish 10lb braid on the lighter spin combo for a bit of fun, 20lb on the medium and 30-50lb on the heavy combo. Leader wise, we go as low as 20lb. Bite offs will see us stepping up to 40lb in the creeks, and even 60-80lb around the headlands, when bigger barra are the target. For lures, we carry a selection of hardbodies around the 120mm size, including shallow divers for casting the flats and mangrove edges, along with some deeper divers for trolling through the deeper

holes, if we locate fish on the sounder. Popular colours include lures with a fair amount of gold, chartreuse or green. Carry a few poppers

having a few 20, 40 and 60g slugs in your kit, if you’ll be spending time in the bluewater. Soft vibes are popular. The bite can vary so it’s worth carrying a couple of weights and sizes. We’ve also had a lot of success fishing metal vibration blades at 1/8, 1/4 and 3/8oz on the flats and down the drop offs, or 1/2oz and even 1oz TT Switchblade HDs, for deeper holes and headlands. The most productive lures for us though, have been soft plastics, with 5-7” jerkbait profiles for the headland and offshore work, 2.5-6” paddletail and 3-4” prawn imitations for the mangroves and drains, along with some 4” FrogZ and 4-5” Pop ShadZ for some surface work.

There’s plenty of by-catch species that will attack your lure, including barracuda. and stickbaits and you could hook-up a trevally, queenfish or mackerel. It’s also worth

Soft plastics are an inexpensive option and extremely versatile, as you

can carry a selection on unweighted and weighted weedless jigheads for fishing snags, along with a variety of weight and hook sizes to suit inshore or offshore. This allows you to take a single soft plastic lure and fish it on the surface, across the flats, in the snags, or weight it for fishing deeper around the headlands. It effectively takes the place of four or five other lures. WHERE TO FISH Fish are where you find them and they don’t always read the same magazines we

a variety of species, including barra, mangrove jack, golden snapper, salmon, grunter and trevally. It’s surprising how little water is required for fish to venture onto the flats, hunting baitfish, prawns and crustaceans in this thin column of water. Key signs to look for include puffs of mud, fleeing baitfish or prawns and shadows of fish cruising the flats. Be sure to keep an ear out for fish feeding and get a lure straight into the area. Structure-wise, fish the drop-offs. Drains that

There’s some amazing wildlife on display in this region. do. Here are a few structure types that work for us and how we approach them. Flats During the higher stages of the tides, the flats can produce

dissect the flats act as travel routes and ambush points for predators. Keep an eye out for solitary snags and even sticks on the flats. We’ve hooked-up to half a dozen mangrove

jacks on a single branch in the middle of nowhere. Surface lures are worth a throw, but we commonly roll 3-4” paddletail plastics across the flat, on 1/12-1/4oz jigheads. On the last of the run-out and first of the run-in, the mouths of these drains can be alive with bait. They funnel from the flat, or line up to seek refuge back up on the flat and in the mangroves. The first cast often counts, so punch it right up in the drain and work it back out. Mangrove Edges While the water is up in the mangroves, it’s also worth peppering the mangrove edges with casts. Keep those eyes and ears out for bait and fish, paying extra attention to mangrove points, variations in the mangrove edge, laydown timber and green leafy branches that are below the surface. These attract bait and offer additional cover. Land those casts right up in the mangroves, amongst the prop roots, in the fork of laydown timber and parallel to laydowns. In this situation, where it’s all about getting that lure in, under or over structure, we opt for weedless jigheads that minimise snagging. If you do snag in a prime area, allow your mate to make a couple casts before retrieving your lure, to avoid shutting the snag down. Our go-to lures

Cod are a common catch, especially when fishing structure. for the snags include 3-4” prawn imitations and paddletails. Use the prawn imitation for slower presentations and keep the lure in the strike zone longer. Get the cast right in there, allow it to sink, and work it out with a series of hops and pauses. Change things up if they won’t bite, mix up the speed of the retrieve, twitches and pauses until you crack a pattern. Deeper Holes Keep an eye on the sounder for deeper holes, often found on points and

the bends of creeks, as these will often hold schools of bait and fish. If these fish aren’t biting it’s worth fishing them at a different stage of the tide, including slack tide. These fish can be targeted effectively with soft vibes, blades and soft plastics. Often less is more, in terms of action. Position the boat directly above the fish and use short lifts to keep the lure in their faces – drive them to strike. If all else fails, switch to deep diving hardbodies and troll the area.

It’s worth paying attention to drop offs around these deeper holes. We’ve had great success casting small, 1/8oz and 1/4oz blades along these edges or hopping them down into the holes. Pikey bream, grunter, mangrove jack, golden snapper and even barra can’t resist a blade sunk to the bottom, and then retrieved with a series of small hops and winds. Headlands Rocky headlands and ledges are fish magnets, but To page 12

OCTOBER 2016

From page 11

can take some nutting out at times. We’ve landed some cracker coral trout, golden snapper, trevally, cod and a mixed bag of other species, by targeting rocky headlands and structure in close proximity to them. Jerkbait style plastics are our go-to and we target the washes, casting close to the headland. Allow the plastic to sink

double hop and drop back to the bottom. Many hits come on the drop, so brace yourself. Be ready for some white knuckle combat to extract these brutes from their hidey holes. For jighead weights, 1/2, 3/4 or 5/0 jigheads have served us well. If you see any surface activity, it’s time to pull out the poppers and stickbaits. Throw a dozen casts in the general area of the disturbance.

trevally and other pelagic species. Once fish or structure are located, it’s again over to the soft plastic jerkbaits, big blades, slugs and micro jigs. BAITFISHING It’s not all about lure fishing for some anglers. Most popular baits will produce results. We commonly cast net mud herring and settle in for a sunset session, anchored along a likely looking mangrove

Enjoy settling in for a sunset session. and then twitch and wind it away from the structure, to represent a fleeing baitfish. Another productive technique has been to target secondary structure out from these headlands, such as rock platforms, rubble and reef. Fish these vertically, sending 5” soft plastic jerkbaits to the bottom. Pull them with a

Bluewater If you score some good weather and opt to travel further into the blue, it’s worth looking for activity. Look for bait, birds or bust ups. Also, keep an eye on the sounder for bait, fish and structure. Trolling skirts or hardbodies is an option while you explore, producing mackerel, tuna,

edge, or on a flat with plenty of drains. The rig we use is simple, consisting of a Mustad Kahle hook in #1 or #1/0, with about a 50cm trace to a swivel, and the smallest running ball sinker we can get away with. We use either one live herring or a couple of dead herring, cast out, kick back and wait for the bite.

A baitfeeder style reel is definitely an advantage when baitfishing, allowing the fish to play with the bait, pick it up and swim off before setting the hook. Night sessions can produce a bit of unwanted by-catch, including trumpeter, catfish, eels and sharks. However, it can also produce some quality grunter, salmon and golden snapper, along with mangrove jack and barramundi. CRABBING Putting a few crab pots in the mangroves could see you feasting on mud crabs, however, it can be a distraction from the fishing and burn casting time. Remember to throw your crab float up into the mangroves so that it’s visible, doesn’t get trapped under the prop roots with the rising and falling tide, and doesn’t get eaten by crocs! You may find your pots getting panel beaten by a crocodile or two, in which case, it’s worth moving them to another area. Yes, crocodiles are a reality in this part of the world, so always stay aware. Don’t wade into the water, especially after dark. I like to keep the boat between myself and deeper water when getting in or out. This truly is a magic part of the world, with plenty on offer for anglers, along with spectacular scenery, serenity and wildlife. It’s worth doing

a bit of research in terms of weather, tides and fishing seasons, to give yourself the best chance of a successful trip. In saying that, I’ve

enjoyed every trip I’ve done to the region, and can guarantee that I’ll be navigating Hinchinbrook Channel in my dreams.

Grunter respond well to slow rolled plastics.

Vinnie Versfeld with a nice Hinchinbrook barra. Prawn imitations are a must-have.

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OCTOBER 2016

HALCO C-GAR: THE WELL BALANCED FISHING LURE FOR unba lanced FISHING MANIACS

The C-Gar from Halco is worth going a little crazy over. Use it fast across the surface for Queenfish and Trevally, or in amongst the wash for Tailor and Australian Salmon. If you’d rather target pelagic speedsters, you can cast it a mile and work it slowly through the depths for Spanish Mackerel or Tuna. Seriously, what’s not to like?

C-GAR www.halcotackle.com facebook.com/halcotackle

Squid

SEQ’s world-class squid fishery BRISBANE

Bob Thornton

Ask anyone in Sydney or Melbourne for the nearest squidding spot, and they’ll usually point you toward a local pier or harbour, where you’ll find other squidders trying their luck. Ask anyone the same question anywhere along the Queensland coast however, and you’ll get weird looks. This isn’t because we don’t have a squid fishery in Queensland – our squid fishery can be pretty special

squid, aren’t the same as their southern counterparts. They’re heavier and thicker through the body, fight harder, and don’t mind getting up in less then a foot of water. People fish for different reasons, but squid fishing my local waters in southern Moreton Bay is my relaxation time. Each year I set myself challenges and spend many fishless hours on the water targeting reclusive species, using a variety of methods. There’s no certainty in all this madness, so I always look forward to when spring rolls around and I can chase

lines, but I still use my bream and flathead gear. It hasn’t let me down. For mainline, I like to use braid because of its castability, and anything from 4-10lb will do the trick. Leaders are essential, and fluorocarbon is definitely the best option for stealth. Squidders will often swear by extremely light leaders, sometimes down to 4lb. I like a heavier leader up to 15lb, because it allows me to wrench my jig off the reef when it gets snagged. JIGS The best advice I can give for jigs is that you get

Landing a squid is best done with a net, gently scooping them from behind. at certain times. Rather, it’s more a product of there being far more fish species to target here than in southern waters. This has created a culture in Queensland where squid fishing tactics and hotspots aren’t handed down, and squid fishing products aren’t sold in great numbers. THE REALITY The reality is that we have a fantastic squid fishery all along the Queensland Coast that rarely gets fished, let alone over-exploited, and anglers can have a lot of fun while spending very little. The squidding experience is very different to down south. Our bigfin reef squid, or tiger

a few squid. I can head down to my local foreshore or canal, quite confident I’ll catch squid, and head home with the unlucky ones destined for the pan! It really is that simple, and with a few key pieces of knowledge, you too can catch squid along any part of the Queensland Coast. FOR STARTERS Before you can start tangling with tentacles, you need a few little bits of kit. Rods and reels can be kept simple – a 2-5kg spin rod and matching 2000-2500 spinning reel are comfortable. There are purpose-built squid rods, reels, and even

Check out that eye! For their size, they have one of the biggest and well-developed eyes in the animal kingdom, so light gear will outshine the heavier stuff. 14

OCTOBER 2016

what you pay for. Spending those few extra dollars will definitely save you dollars in the long-term, and ultimately catch you more squid! As my squid fishing is so varied, I

carry a selection of jigs. Jig size is universally measured in inches, and I find that size 2.5 is a great all-rounder. On shutdown bites, I’ll often resort to a 2.2 or even a 2.0 size. When the bite is hot, and it often is, I find 3.0 and 3.5 size jigs will select out those bigger models. Squid jigs come in different buoyancies. Shallow water models will sink slowly, and as the name suggests, these are intended for shallow water use and can be invaluable at night. Deeper water models will sink quickly and are useful when the squid are holding deeper, which is usually during the day. All these jig types and sizes have a place in my box, and the more you have, the greater your options are. THE RIGHT WATER By far, the most important aspect to squidding is to find the right water to do it. As I’ve mentioned, there are great locations all up and down the coast, but a few small tips will help to narrow your search. Generally speaking, the cleaner the water, the better your chances. When beginning your search for squid, always focus on areas close to the ocean, such as bays, river mouths, harbours and headlands. For the sea-going anglers out there, you can also find some fantastic squidding opportunities offshore. The next most important thing is structure. Our tiger squid need a reason to be there, and that reason is food. Their quarry, which

You may have to pull squid out of the water by hand. Watch out for the beak and tentacles, and don’t get inked.

Michael Fox nailed this free-swimming lunker on a DTD jig in shallow water. usually takes the form of crabs, prawns and fish, like to use structure to hide in. The squid will use this cover to ambush tasty morsels, and also hide themselves from predators. The classic structure for squid is broken ground and rubble. Weed, seagrass, jetty pylons and retaining walls will all hold their share of squid if the water is clear enough. Optimal water depth depends largely on the location, but anything up to a few metres deep can hold squid, you just need to find where they are on the day by covering water. TIME AND TIDE I find that the water is at its clearest during the high tide, and this is when the squid will get right up into the skinny stuff to feed. High tide will often see squid

swimming up onto shallow flats of broken ground, and this makes for some exciting fishing. If I can, I fish the high tide, because it suits landbased anglers like myself, and because the fishing is often visual. When the tide drops, the squid still feed, but they will usually retreat to deeper holes, and they can be tougher to find. Most of my fishing is done during the day. I like to have the sun up so I can see what I’m casting into, and when I do hook into a squid, I can see if other squid are following. Night fishing can be productive, and squid will move into the shallows to hunt under the cover of darkness. This is where the spotlighting technique comes into its own. With a good spotlight, you can

The end result of 5 minutes of madness. The author and his mate had fun picking off this school of tiger squid.

Squid find cruising squid, before dimming the light and then trying to tempt them. ON WATER TIPS How you work the jig can be the difference between a great day and a pretty ordinary one. After casting out, I usually let my jig fall until it gets close to or hits the bottom. Then I commence my retrieve. In most environments, I like to employ a few rips to get it up in the water column, before allowing it to fall. It’s important to allow the jig time to sink. Most squid will take the jig as it falls slowly through the water column, and hook-ups usually occur when the angler goes to work the jig again. A hook-up will initially feel like you’ve hooked some weed or a plastic bag. When this happena, I wait a few seconds for the tell-tale pulses through the rod tip, before declaring I’ve hooked the kraken. Playing a squid requires soft hands and loose drags. If you go too hard on a squid, you’ll tear through the soft flesh. As I bring one squid in, I’m always keeping my eyes peeled for more squid, as they love to travel in little groups. Even if you can’t see any, a cast back to the same area often results in another hook-up. If I have

someone with me, I always ask them to cast in behind my hooked squid. If you can see other squid, make sure you don’t bomb the jig on their heads, as this will only spook them. Casting past or near them, and imparting the slightest of movements should draw their interest. Once they close their tentacles around the jig, I’ll wait for 1-2 seconds before pulling tight to the squid. Landing a squid is best done with a net, and gently scooping them up from

behind is the easiest way. If you go from the front, they’ll see you coming and let out a shower of ink. Lifting them with the rod out of the water and onto the boat or land may work, but bigger squid may have to be lifted by hand if you don’t have a net. Watch out for the tentacles and beak, and don’t be in the firing line when they ink. FIND THE KRAKEN! From about June to November is peak squid time in South East Queensland, as this is when they school up over shallow reefs to breed.

Investing in quality jigs like this Kraken Egi is well-worth it.

Fishing for squid in daylight can be visual fishing.

Land-based squidding is easy, effective and a whole lot of fun if you spend a bit of time preparing.

These cephalopods will only live for 1-2 years, so each year should see a new recruitment of uneducated squid. This is the perfect scenario for anglers. There’s no reason people in Queensland shouldn’t be fishing for squid. They’re widely available, easy to catch, and they taste fantastic. As a bonus, the kids will love getting involved in all aspects of squid fishing, right down to when it comes time to clean the squid. We have a worldclass squid fishery right on our doorstep – get out and experience it at its best!

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Tech Tricks

Using Tackle Tactics SnakelockZ weedless rigs BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

Mangrove jack and estuary cod become more frequent catches in rivers and estuaries in the warmer months. These fish like the meanest, gnarliest structure, which gives them both refuge and ambush locations. They commonly dart from the structure, engulf prey and head straight back into the thick of it, in the blink of an eye. Anglers need to get their offerings extremely close to the structure to elicit the strike, so having

an offering that is unlikely to foul on structure is a major advantage. Weedless or snagless rigging allows you to get your offering very close to structure and work the lure through or over the snag without fouling up. There are many ways to achieve this snag resistance for your soft plastics, but one of the easiest to use is the TT SnakelockZ rigs. They have a changeable weight system, plus a moulded locking device, which holds your plastic in place. This avoids the head of the plastic pulling back along the hook after a tail strike. Let’s look at how to effectively rig up, using these weedless rigs.

As all weights have the same spiral attachment, hooks from 2/0 to 8/0 and weights from 1/12oz to 1/2oz are interchangeable. The heavy-duty Mustad hooks are ideal for tough estuarine brawlers, yet there is a lighter duty SnakelockZ Finesse range for when you require a thinner gauge hook.

Push the hook eye through the hole you made in the head of the plastic from the underneath side, or chin, of the plastic while holding the head between your thumb and forefinger.

Position your plastic so that the point of insertion is in line with the hook point, and then push the point centrally through the back of the plastic. If you don’t get it correct first time, take it out and redo it. It’s important that the point exits centrally out the back. 16

OCTOBER 2016

Soft plastic shads and prawns are common fare for the likes of cod, jacks, barra and trevally. SnakelockZ come in many hook sizes and head weights. The weight off any hook size can easily be added to another hook size, so you can mix and match hooks and weights. For the ZMan SwimmerZ 4” and the Atomic Prong 4”, I use a 4/0 hook.

The weighted head attaches to the hook eye with a special stainless steel, pig-tail style spiral hook. When you want to change weights, or try another plastic rigged with a different hook, just twist the head off the hook eye by turning it to follow the pig-tail.

SnakelockZ have a small white metal ‘keeper’ lump moulded onto the neck of the hook, to stop the plastic being torn down the hook during a tail strike. However, this keeper doesn’t allow all plastics to be rigged in the conventional manner. Pushing this lump through the head of the plastic is likely to tear it and render it useless, especially soft plastics not made from ElaZtech.

Once pushed all the way through, your plastic should sit like this on the hook, with the hook eye in the centre of the nose. The weight can be attached now if you wish to avoid the hook eye pulling out during the next stage of rigging.

The hook point is now sitting flat along the back. With the point inserted in the plastic, it can be worked over heavy structure. A strike will pop the hook point free. Many plastics can be rigged weedless. If you have no luck with a shad, just take it off the SnakelockZ and put on a prawn profile. You’ll only need to cut your leader when you change your weight to a different size.

To rig our plastics, we actually need to insert the hook eye through the head of our plastic instead of the point. First, pierce the plastic in the correct spot using the hook point, to make a guide hole for the hook eye to push through.

Put the point of the hook inside the belly slot if your plastic has one. Use the tip of your thumb to mark the position that coincides with the rear of the hook. This is where you need to push the hook point through.

For even better snag-proofing you can use this trick. Firmly squeeze the area where the hook point is sitting to slightly push the plastic forward at this spot. As you release the pressure, let the first few millimetres of the hook point penetrate into the plastic.

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Putting on a puppet show NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.starlofishing.com

It turns out that successful lure fishing and puppetry have a great deal in common! Winter is finally behind us and, with it, the bulk of

forget all about the importance of working the lure correctly once it’s in the water. I firmly believe that how you present and work a lure is often far more important to angling success than the actual choice of lure model, size or colour. To put it another way, the magic show is performed

(and even a few older hands) is failing to visualise what their lure is doing in the water, and exactly what it’s supposed to be imitating or representing. My wife Jo has a great analogy for this. She likes to compare lure fishing to performing a puppet show, where the angler is the puppeteer and the lure is

Skipjack or striped tuna spend a lot of time chasing small, fastmoving baitfish in the ocean’s surface layer. To catch them we need to not only match the size, shape and colour of those baitfish, but also imitate their swimming style and behaviour patterns.

Lures come in all manner of shapes, sizes, actions and colours. Exactly which one you choose is nearly always less important than how you work it in the water. the ‘show’ season. Boat shows, tackle shows, 4WD and camping shows, lifestyle and leisure shows… I’ve lost count of how many of these events I’ve attended over the past few months. At several of these expos I was called upon to present talks on stage, and my recurring ‘theme’ for this past show season has been finesse lure fishing and how to get the most out of it. My emphasis in these public presentations has been on ‘working’ lures: in other words, what you do with your rod, reel and line once your lure actually hits the water. In my opinion, far too many anglers place way too much emphasis on the ‘what’, ‘where’ and ‘when’ of lure fishing and nowhere near enough on the question of ‘how’. In other words, they want to know the magic lure, the secret spot and the peak time to fish. They become so locked in on these parts of the process that they completely

OCTOBER 2016

by the magician, not by his or her wand! The biggest single mistake in this regard made by most new chum lure fishers

the puppet. The more lifelike the performance we put on with our chosen ‘puppet’, the more convinced our ‘audience’ (the target fish) will be.

So, if we’re attempting to represent a crab with our lure, it should not only look something like a crab, but it should also behave like a crab. Last time I checked, not too many crabs skip merrily across the surface at eight knots or dart and dash through mid-water. Instead they scuttle, crawl and shuffle across the seabed, or climb about slowly on rocks, kelp stems and pylons… And those are the key actions we need to imitate with our crabstyle lures.

By contrast, garfish mostly swim in the upper layers of the water column and, when alarmed, they’ll frequently skip clear of the surface as they dash rapidly away from danger. A lure intended to represent a garfish should do these things.

worth spending a few hours trying out a bunch of lures and presentation strategies. As the weather warms, it’s even possible to slip on a pair of goggles, jump in the pool and check out the action from below. You’ll be amazed how much you learn.

Even the best crab-imitating lure is unlikely to get eaten unless you work it to look like a crab. That means dead slow and on or near the bottom.

A trout landed by the author coughed up this gudgeon. The baitfish is reasonably well represented in terms of size, shape and colour by the soft plastic shown here… But it’s also vitally important to make the lure behave like a gudgeon in the water.

One of the best ways to understand how lures need to be worked for optimum results and at what speeds they perform best is to closely study their behaviour in the water while you try out different presentation strategies. Admittedly, this can be a tad tricky in dirty water, but if you have a backyard swimming pool or access to one, it’s well

As I love to say, it ain’t rocket science… But you’d be surprised how many people get this whole puppet show thing wrong, or simply don’t think about it at all when lure fishing. Yet understanding it can elevate you into the winner’s circle and make you one of those 10 percenters who catch 90% of the fish! Think about it…

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10.55%

Late shallow snapper BALLINA

Joe Allan

The Richmond River started to clear from the rains in September, which really dirtied up the higher reaches. Bass season is now open and this is my favourite time to get out and chase these feisty fish. They will be on the move to upper reaches in creeks and main river arms, but don’t overlook main river stretches. Fish are always hungry at this time of year after doing their business. Try big Bassman Spinnerbaits and Atomic Hardz Vibe 60 with rattle in black beauty and rock crab. As the weather warms

and the bugs come out, the surface action will heat up, but it won’t be that great for a little while yet. On the offshore front, get far out to the edge of the shelf to chase blue-eye trevally and bar cod. The best bait is cuttlefish. Cut the backbone out of the cuttlefish and use strong circle hooks. Electric reels are a must. Close reefs will still produce good snapper – towards the end of the month they’ll start to move out to the 32 fathoms. This is where to look when you can get there, and when the tide allows you to fish it. The northeast winds that start over the next few months will make it harder to fish deep reefs. As the water warms, the

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cobia and mahi mahi should start to move on the close reefs. Get some live bait like yakkas and slimy mackerel, and throw these around the FADs for a good start. Gamakatsu Live Bait hooks are the best to give these fish some curry. The lower reaches of the Richmond River should see some mud crabs fire up as the warmer weather brings them in. Emigrant Creek and North Creek are the spots to start looking for these tasty guys – best baits are luderick frames and any mullet frames left over from your bait fishing trips. Over the flats, around the town stretch of river, whiting should start to come on the bite for surface lures. Target the shallow flats as the water moves up with the incoming tide. The best lure to try is definitely the Sugapen from Bassday. Beaches are fishing well and the dart have started to come on nicely. Slugs are a great profile to use for these guys. You may still get the odd tailor off the beach, but these will start to become scarce. You will pick up the odd big sea run bream and flathead in the gutters as by-catch. Big bream can really give you some stick on light gear.

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Mixed action out on the reef YAMBA

Dave Gaden

October is one of those funny months for fishing in our area. It can be hard work one year and red-hot the next. The water temperature is rising and fish have had some time to recover from their winter spawn and disperse throughout the system, both in the estuary and offshore. INSHORE AND ESTUARY Last month the river had a far bit of colour in it due to the better than average rainfall in the catchment. This pushed some of the better fish closer to the mouth, which were chasing the clean water on the incoming tide. These small freshes in the river look as if they will continue, so finding the fish may be a challenge. Mulloway love the fresh due to the food, which is predominately mullet, being pushed out and the break walls are a real hotspot. Some great lures to try are Bills Bugs range of big divers and the new Maria 140 Loaded sinking stickbait. Flathead are around in good numbers from Middle Wall to Harwood Bridge depending on water clarity, and quite a few fish around the 70cm+ mark are being caught. These are expected to stick around until the end of October. Luderick or blackfish have been sensational this

Amazingly, our snapper season is still going strong! season, and have given no indication they will slow up as the warmer weather comes. I’ve weighed fish to over 1.6kg lately and heard reports of bigger ones. Even the first timers are getting a bag. Whiting should be around this month. The entrance to Lake Wooloweyah around Joss Island is a great spot, as well as the eastern side of Turkey Island upstream from Browns rocks. Anchoring on a rising tide at the lake with lightly weighted yabbies or beach worms is very productive. Turkey Island seems to work better drifting on an run-out tide, with a little more weight, again with yabbies as bait. For those not wanting to travel for them, the shortcut between Hickey and Dart islands is always worth a shot, with the ease of

being able to pump yabbies right alongside the spot The last three years have seen the Clarence once again come alive with crabs, both

Headland to Redcliff in the south in around 10m of water for the first and last two hours of daylight is where you want to focus your attention. If you want to head north, north to the break reef off Woody Head, you should be able to fish for them all day. If lures aren’t for you, then floating a big bait with a couple of fluoro beads above the hook through the same area will be every bit as productive. Close reef from Angourie to Redcliff holds good fish for those not wanting to travel far. The northeast corner produces some big snapper in about 50m and deeper with good trag and bluespot flathead mixed in. Around 3 nautical miles south-southwest is a ground I call Texas, which is a great spring spot. This will show easily as you drive over it, with some nice high rocks Big mulloway are available in the estuary all the way out to the wide offshore grounds.

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Mulloway have been thick on the offshore grounds. blue swimmer and muddies. Normally you crab in months with a ‘r’ in them, but they never stopped this year and all signs point to another bumper spring. Muddies will be right throughout the system in the usual mud holed spots. Blue swimmers should be in good numbers on the sand channel from the Tavern to Reedy creek and from the boat ramp on Carrs Drive to the entrance to the lake. But honestly, like last season, you should catch them just about anywhere there is water and sand. OFFSHORE Offshore is where I spend an average of 180 days a year running fishing charters. This year the larger snapper arrived about three weeks late, but they just haven’t left. I have had numerous days of multiple 4-8kg fish being caught, and they are mixed with a lot of quality reef fish like venus tuskfish, Moses perch and Maori cod. For those who like to chase them on plastics, Shelly

and fish holding very tight between the rocks. Drifting with a north current can give

up a mixed bag of quality fish most days. The wider ground has been smashed by leatherjacket over the last month or so, but the latest lot are looking poor, meaning they have spawned and I expect them to move on by October. This will mean the reef they took over will quickly fill with trag, snapper and mulloway once more. Drifting the wide grounds off Brooms Head is one of my favourites, as it’s a lottery every day. Anything from cobia, rosy jobfish, pigfish, pearl perch, kingfish, and even early mahimahi can be caught with the normal reef fish in abundance. Spring brings trag to South Evans Reef in huge numbers mixed with really

good mulloway, and the boat drive is always well worth it. It’s also only 10 nautical miles from the bar to the Italian Grounds, and here you’re almost guaranteed a good trag and mulloway. I like to fish in (30-40m) for them, drifting if possible, but if you find a hotspot, you can anchor, as they will hold for you. Usually there will be schools of livies with them. Having one live bait and one flesh bait on a standard rig proves the most productive with the activity of the trag usually attracting the mulloway to the boat. Enjoy the spring and change of season, and if you are traveling south to Yamba, remember we’re now under daylight savings, giving you an extra hour to get that big one.

Those heading offshore have often returned with great mixed bags.

Go find the flatties ILUKA

Ross Deakin

The mighty Clarence River is still looking pretty turbid due to an unseasonal amount of rain. This was exactly what the river needed – a fresh flush to invigorate fish and fishing activity. We have seen some excellent bream catches, especially around the river mouth and up to Browns Rocks, and some fine flathead caught as well. With the last soaking this area experienced, things quietened down and are now picking back up with impressive catches of flathead and bream. Juno Mailey landed an absolute whopper flatty at Moriartys, estimated around 90-100cm. He released it, but his grandad and local Tony Belton managed to snap a great photo during the excitement. Tailor were up and down and somewhat of a disappointment this winter. There have been fish caught on the headlands and beaches up to the 3kg mark but just not in the numbers we’ve been used to. Trevally

have been caught off the Bluff and Woody Head with reports of up to 8kg fish taken. There have been a few nice whiting taken on the Iluka beaches with worms and poppers. There have been great mulloway caught. Brisbane fisher Young Kim, with a friend, caught two mulloway off the wall on September 7 – 20kg and

10kg. Steve Sherman caught a fantastic Tarwine weighing 1.64kg at Shark Bay on September 1, using pipis. Luderick catches have been improving especially around the Bluff, the Old Ferry and off the Iluka Wall. Snapper have been around in good numbers with many cracker 4-8kg fish weighed in. Bruce Lindenburg had a

Juno making his catch off the shore.

Snapper have been around in good numbers with many cracker 4-8kg fish weighed in.

5.1kg fish caught at Woody Head on the August 31 and Alan Heppers got a 6kg beast Snapper caught at Black Rock on September 12. Weathers warming up, so here’s to an awesome spring and fish aplenty. • For all your fishing needs and up-to-date information and tips for spots and fish drop into the shop for a chat. Iluka Bait and Tackle is located at 3 Owen Street, Iluka NSW 2466. Give us a call on (02) 6646 5217 or 0402 997 572. We are available online at www. ilukabait.com.au or visit our Facebook page.

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Flathead thick throughout the river system THE TWEED

Josh Gurney

There have been a few good fish getting around over the last month. Bream, mulloway, big flathead, leaping bull sharks, and swimming kangaroos. A couple of good mates and myself have been focusing our efforts on the spawning winter bream. They are throughout the whole system and, when we’ve had a chance, we start in the early mornings fishing bridges.

three rods with me – one with a deep diving crank, one with a small curly-tail soft plastic and another with a surface lure. I can cover all bases and save time without constantly having to retie and change lures. You’ll find that in canals, most bream will be hiding in the shade of a pontoon or between boats, so casting accuracy is required. Flathead have been thick around just about all the corners of the river. Light line, early morning, run out tide and a small Cranka Crabs are really effective on these canal flatties. to medium size soft plastic will see you with a bag of favourite technique of mine, flatties in no time. Try the canal bashing, involves a Piggery, Condong Sugar couple of different outfits Mill or behind the Tweed all with light line, 4lb leader Heads Golf Course. and a variety of lures. For those who have I try to always have a little more patience,

Be patient, try to time your tides with dawn or dusk. It’s nearly time for those beaut mangrove jack. Cast Cranka Crabs tight beside the bridge plyons and allow them to slowly drift down along the oyster

encrusted concrete – this is easily the most successful way to entice a decent bream in winter. Another

Winter bream are easy to entice around the pylons.

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coincide a tide change, low or high, with dawn or dusk. Spend a little time fishing one of the many mulloway holes throughout the river, especially the Terranora hole and Boyds Bay Bridge, which is where there have been reports of anglers smacking them lately. Use the same luring technique as you would if you were targeting flathead. With a bit of time, you’ll come up with the goods. For those of you that know me, its coming into my favourite time of year. Slowly but surely, summer is just around the corner with mangrove jack! They should be starting to bite, as days are getting warmer.

Check out this cracker GT of Cody’s! Try throwing some bigger 4-6” paddle-tail soft plastics around common man made structure such as rock walls, bridges, jetties and moored boats. A lot of time and patience is required. Don’t be afraid to use heavy gear. A 5-10kg rod, 4000 size spinning reel, or bait cast, and anywhere up to 40-50lb fluorocarbon leader – a very rewarding type of fishing. Fingers-crossed they come out in force more aggressive then ever, and sooner than later. A recent trip just outside the river mouth saw my good friend Cody Munro and I chasing birds, busting up schools of what we thought were tuna, but turned out to be trevally. Cody was casting stickbaits and I was

A swimming kangaroo crossing the river.

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throwing 5” jerkshad soft plastics. It took all of 30 seconds for Cody to hook-up to a reasonable size GT. He was pumped! After a good five minutes he landed his fish and that was it. We called it a day. The birds flew off, bait balls had split up and the ocean turned into a washing machine. We started the motor and headed back through the bar, but just as we crossed I noticed a head bobbing in the water. We went over to check what it was. “It’s a kangaroo!” Cody yelled. Couldn’t believe it, a kangaroo crossing the Tweed River mouth swimming from Jack Evans Boat Harbour to Fingal – not something you see everyday!

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Pulling ‘em in with plastics SOUTHERN GOLD COAST

Danny Sands

October is a transition month for both offshore and estuary species. After a very mild winter and above

average rainfall, we’ll start to see summer species making a mark on the Gold Coast. The Nerang River whiting have been in exceptional numbers, throughout winter and spring. For the best results,

live bloodworms and canal wrigglers are the go-to baits for whiting. Fishing from the Council Chambers all the way up to the cotton trees will be worth a look. The run-out tide has been the preferred tide to fish.

Snapper will still be worth a try in October.

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October would have to be one of my favourite months to chase flathead, yellowtail and kingfish, which are all on offer this month. It’s a great month to chase metre-plus mulloway in the Seaway in daylight hours. Mulloway tend to respond better to artificial baits, as most of the sea mullet run is over. Working large plastics like the 7” Gulp jerkbaits and Zerek Fish Traps will work extremely well. Most bites will be around the tide change. The north wall of the seaway and the pipeline are great areas to try in October. Big breeding flathead will be on offer in the deeper parts of the Seaway. Tea-bagging big plastics like

the McCarthy 5” paddle-tail and the 6” Gulp Grub will work wonders. If you’re not a lure person, drift live herring to out-fish most plastics on any given day. Work the rock drop-off from the pipeline all the way to the trees on South Stradbroke Island for big girl flathead spots. Many flathead that turn up in the deep water are spawning females over 70cm. These need to be handled carefully and released. Micro jigging the Seaway will also produce all species from trevally to yellow kingfish, and even the odd mulloway. Storm 30g, Koika and Maria jigs work extremely well. They have two things going for them – one is the sink rate for the fast current in the Seaway, and second is their small profile matches white and frogmouth pilchards. Mangrove jack come very active this month. It’s worth the effort to grab these sought-after estuary sportfish. October has its prevailing northeasterly winds in the afternoons that can shut down a mangrove jack bite. A midday low tide will see most of the action when chasing jacks. Slow roll 4” ZMan SwimmerZ and DieZels in pearl white under pontoons. Water temperature is very important when chasing jacks. Areas to try are the mid to upper reaches of the Nerang River, and the canal system behind the Casino will be worth a look this month. Places like Cotton Trees, Bundall Bridge, the Council Chambers, the deep hole behind the old Titanium Bar and the rocky shelf in front of the Southport School are good too. Trolling can be very effective this month. Hardbody lures like Killalure River Rats and Atomic Shiner are worth a try in the Nerang River. OFFSHORE The first trickle of the east Australian current moves in this month. With that, the water temperature will begin to rise. Gamefishing is generally good if the bait shows up. Quite a few yellowfin tuna and the odd black marlin have shown up already. Most of the yellowfin tuna have been 40-70kg. A few around 100kg have been caught in the past month, on the wider grounds. Most have fallen to trolled 8-12” skirted lures, but a few have been caught on jigs as well, dropped into schools marked on the sounder. Cubing with pilchards or chopped tuna is another method that has plenty of potential on calm days. Snapper fishing has been excellent on the 36 and 50 fathoms, northeast of the Seaway. Get out there

It has been great to see so many big healthy flathead in our local waterways. before the current picks up. The lack of current on the 18 and 24 fathoms has made it tough for fishing for snapper in recent times. The bigger tides around the new moon will be worth a try before the season ends. Float lining pillies in a berley trail will get good numbers of snapper, but live baits on down riggers and soft plastics will catch the bigger models. Jerkbait style plastics at 5 and 7”, in nuclear chicken and white, still work the best on snapper off the Gold Coast. Last time I went float

lining on the 24s, I got bitten off a few times by mackerel. Hopefully this is a good sign that we might have a bumper mackerel season. The Gold Coast has seen good numbers of tailor along our coastline. Anglers have bagged out on tailor by trolling hardbody lures behind the sand bags at Narrowneck. Take care when fishing behind the breakers. The sand pumping jetties have also been fishing well for tailor and the odd mulloway. Try fishing at night on the jetty, with gang pillies under the lights.

Mangrove jack have started to wake from their winter blues.

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GC surface bite heats up GOLD COAST CANALS

Josh Dunn

With the rise of the water temperature throughout SEQ canals, we are seeing our canal systems start to liven up once again, and the surface bite will get better! Early morning and late afternoon sessions are best for surface, especially a late afternoon along a rock wall after a hot day. You should see a great deal of bait clinging to the water’s edge. Flathead are probably the main species for most estuarine anglers around this time of year, and I don’t blame them, some big lizards have been caught recently all throughout the Broadwater and Jumpinpin. With the annual Flathead Classic, flathead fishing may take a couple of weeks to pick up again afterwards, but don’t be dismayed. There are quality fish out there on the prowl! Fishing around spots that look likely to hold bait, for example, weed beds, drop-offs, rock or retaining walls, bridge pylons, jetties and so forth, should see you connected to some lizards. A

good starting point for lures are 4” plastics with a jighead around size 3/8o, and ZMan offer a range of colours. A few I would recommend are pinfish, electric chicken and bubble gum. Mangrove jack are thick, and some anglers are catching several jacks per session,

like to keep things simple. Cast at jetties throughout the canals using a 4” paddle-tail lures and should be in with a shot. White colours usually works a treat. Throwing six to eight casts at each jetty is a perfect amount, where you’re not over or under fishing it. I usually go two on the front,

A solid bream taken from some heavy structure. There’ll be plenty of good fish around like this one during October.

An average sized flathead pulled from a Gold Coast canal on a ZMan 2.5” Slim SwimZ. which is a great achievement. They are a hard species to hook, let alone land, but I

one or two on each side and, if you can, one behind. A slow, constant roll is by far

the most successful technique when casting at jetties. In the next month, we will see air and water temperatures rise. With hotter weather, we may see an increase in afternoon storms or scattered showers throughout days. But then again, this is a good sign when fishing – just before a storm the fishing often fires up! I spoke to Will Smedley, who fishes the southern Gold Coast canals, and he let me know that the action

is picking up down there as well. Southern Gold Coast canals such as Tallebudgera and Currumbin creeks will also start to have a heavier amount of jelly prawns holding on structures such as pontoons and rock walls. Bream, flathead, mangrove jack and trevally are the main species to target with jelly prawn imitations, as these fish will gorge themselves on these tiny shrimp. A great lure to use would be a ZMan 2” GrubZ

in hardihead colour or other transparent colours to properly imitate the shrimp. Light jigheads, such as TT HWS, in 1/40oz will create a very natural suspended action just like a shrimp hovering in the same spot or tight to structure. October is another awesome month of the year where we start to see a glimpse of how hot summer will be! The fishing fires up, and some solid fish are on the bite, so make the most of it!

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Winter species leave and summer fish arrive GOLD COAST

David Green

October is an interesting month on the offshore grounds. There’s a transition where winter species start to reduce in number, and the first of the warmer water fish show towards the end of the month. By October, most snapper have spawned and start to disappear – their near orange spawning colours fade back to a pinker hue. There are usually a few really big snapper around this month, so while the numbers drop-off, the average size is often excellent. OFFSHORE In general, the current is slow in October and bottom fishing is reasonable on the 50 fathom line. Pearl perch, tuskfish, snapper, amberjack and Samson fish make up most of the catches. There are also good kingfish on the northern end of the 50 fathom line and the Kingie Reef this month. Live baits, jigs and big soft plastics can all be effective. This area fishes best when the wind is light

and from the south. It’s hard to fish in a strong northwesterly wind. It’s also common to see fish on the sounder and find it hard to get a bite. In this situation, try smaller baits and hooks. Wait for

an inshore run of cobia. These fish move onto Palm Beach and Mermaid Reef, later in the month, and also show on the 18 and 24 fathom lines east of the Seaway. Berley and big live baits are key. They

a few mulloway at night this month. There are also mackerel tuna, tailor, teraglin and the odd snapper. There are often schools of small bonito and mackerel tuna working the run-out tide lines east

Michael Green and Shelley Christie with a pair of amberjack. a tide change and move around until you find more receptive schools of fish. October sometimes has

also respond to large soft plastics. Most are 20-30kg. The close reefs east of the Seaway can produce

of the entrance. Spinning small metal lures and soft plastics can be very productive.

If you’re a keen mackerel fisher, it’s a good time to stock up on troll baits. The artificial reef just off Narrowneck is a great spot to spin for tailor and bonito. There are often schools of pretty Watsons leaping bonito in October. For the game fishers, it’s generally a quiet month, but it’s hard to predict activity, as the water east of the continental shelf seems to maintain a pretty constant 22-23°C. This area can produce big yellowfin out on the 1000m line, as well as blue marlin and striped marlin. The 50 fathom line can also be worth a troll, targeting striped marlin. Look out for schools of slimy mackerel and sauris in October. If you see gannets diving, there are a few striped marlin in the area. RIVERS AND ESTUARIES As the days get longer and water warms up, mangrove jack become active. Casting paddle-tail soft plastics like 4” DieZel MinnowZ along the edge of floating pontoons is the most popular method. Hardbodied lures that suspend on the retrieve are

also effective. Good canal systems to work include the upper Coomera River, the canal system of the Runaway Islands, Couran Cove and any canals in the Nerang River. Jacks have adapted really well to floating pontoons and the local population is thriving. In the distant past, I caught mangrove jack at night, but they seem quite happy to bite in the middle of the day now and pontoons give them a good position to hunt from, regardless of the tide. Flathead will be spawning this month and there’ll be a lot of action in the deeper water. All these big fish are females and will be in large aggregations in the Seaway and Jumpinpin areas. Make sure you release any of the bigger fish. Vertical jigging large soft vibes, big plastics and blades can be quite productive this month. There should be plenty of flathead action up on the sand and mud flats throughout the Broadwater. In a good session we average 30-40 fish, in October. The main factors that

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Excellent fish well over a metre will be caught. Tide changes are the best times to fish and most of the bites come as the water slows.

There should also be some quite good whiting fishing this month on both bait and lures. The Nerang River is often productive for

whiting at night. Overall, October is an interesting month to fish the Gold Coast and the flathead can be outstanding.

Bill Boyd with a decent 83cm flathead from Whalleys Gutter. make things hard are northerly winds and dirty water. In this situation, the run-in tide is more productive than the run-out. Look for slightly cleaner patches and use brightly coloured lures. I’ve found the flathead to be quite fickle this season, when it comes to lure preferences. One day they climb all over small and medium sized

soft vibes with gusto, the next day they want curl-tail plastics. Then they seem to like trolling. Mix up your methods and find what the preference is on the day. There have been a lot of flounder turning up this season. Most of our flounder have eaten small hardbodied lures on the troll, and they tend to be in areas of soft sand. These

fish are excellent eating and seem to be turning up more regularly over the past few years. I’ve noticed areas that produce flounder also have bar-tailed flathead and stargazers. These spots tend to be sandy, rather than muddy. October is also a good month to chase mulloway on soft plastics, in the Seaway and Jumpinpin entrances.

The author with a nice kingie caught on bait off the 50 fathom line.

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Flat out for flatties in October JUMPINPIN

Mick Morris gembait@tpg.com

October provides us with great fishing weather as the days are longer and the water temperature is on the rise. The small tides early this month will be a great opportunity to target mulloway with big livies at the deep water off Swan Bay, Crusoe Island, Flat Rock, Giants Grave and Marks Rocks in the river. Some of the local anglers have had great success jigging large 6-8” soft plastics with 1-2oz jigheads in the deep water off Swan Bay at the slack of the tide when the current is at its slowest. Mangrove jack and estuary cod will become more active and be on the chew with the warmer waters in any spot with a decent snag, fallen tree or rock wall. Trolling rattling lures close to the snags or presenting a small live

mullet or herring will often tempt these great fighting fish to strike. There should be some decent-sized bream around the 30cm mark getting around, but nothing to write home about. Many are well undersized and probably what has been knocking your bait off all day. If you’d just like to have fun, then down size your hook and the size bait you’re using, and you’ll find your hook up rate on these small bream will increase. Try all the usual hot spots for bream, which are the dead trees at the bottom of North Straddie, Kalinga Bank, the Stockyards, Flat Rock and Little Rocky Point. It’s all about tailor at this time of year, with some big hauls coming from the surf beaches of both North and South Stradbroke. Most are being caught on pillies or 40-65g metal slugs on the run-in tide. A few small schools have come inside chasing whitebait and can be seen chopping on the surface. The bait they are

chasing is quite small, so for better results, use small pillies or whitebait when bait fishing, or 10-20g slugs when using lures. The best time to try is early

can see the water draining off a bank and more than likely there will be a flatty lying in wait. If you prefer trolling, then the flats across from Rocky Point

It’s flathead season, so get out and amongst them!

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The author’s brother Richie caught this healthy squid while trolling for flathead at the ‘Pin. in the morning when the weather is at its calmest. Plenty of flatties are showing for those casting plastics around Tipplers Island and the Pandannus weed banks at the bottom of the tide. Try to target weedy patches where you

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have been producing some good fish near the top of the tide. Whiting catches start to pick at this time of year, and there will be some elbow slappers out there if you are willing to be patient and put in the hard yards. They

like a fast moving tide as they forage for food on the bottom, so its always a good idea to move your bait around if you aren’t getting any bites. Live blood and beach worms are simply the best baits but yabbies, prawns and squid will also do the job if no worms are available. This month the better spots will be the Gold Bank, behind Diner Island, the back of Tabby Tabby, the Never Fail Islands and near Slipping Sands. Muddies and sandies have also fired up with the recent rains, so don’t forget your pots and dillies on your next trip out. Try

to nudge deeper into the mangroves at the high tide when you drop your pots, as this area has been the best. Fish frames or off meat have been the better baits. Sandies have been taken along the edges of channels such as Jacobs Well Channel, Tiger Mullet, north Canaipa and up near the Powerlines, Redland Bay Channel and the mouth of the Logan. • Thanks for all your reports and keep those fish coming in. If you’d like any advice or up to date fishing information drop us a line at Gem Bait & Tackle on (07) 3287 3868 or email gembait@tpg.com.au.

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Mega mulloway month SOUTHERN BAY

Nabeel Issa

Spring has well and truly set in and the fishing is warming up just as fast. This time of the year is my absolute favourite for fishing in Moreton Bay, and looking back through my old photos, October is definitely the month for mulloway! Spring over the last few years has provided some great fishing and the way things are looking, we can expect to see the same. PELAGICS They are slightly early this year, but there have been reports of some longtail tuna and school mackerel in the Southern Bay. These fish generally don’t come through until summer, but here’s hoping for an extended season! Mackerel have been chasing bait schools through the Rainbow Passage towards Amity. Use your sounder to locate the bait, and then using a metal slug or a soft plastic, work your lures as fast as you can back through the bait. If the mackerel are around, you will find out pretty quick! The longtail tuna have been spotted around Harry

Nick Whyte knows mulloway better than most and he is a big advocate of using sounders.

Here’s a selection of the author’s preferred lures when chasing longtail tuna. Pinks and blues are his favourite colours.

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Atkinson Reef and towards Mud Island. There is not a specific spot for these fish, so paying attention to the sounder for schools of bait and looking for birds should be a high priority when finding the tuna. There have been some barrel-sized tuna around, so make sure you have the correct gear ready. Gear that’s too light will lead to a long battle, which almost always ends with sharks grabbing the fish! Fish as heavy as you can get away with and get them in before the sharks get a free meal! I like to fish 30lb braid, matched to a PE3 or 10-15kg rated rod. My preferred lure is a

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sinking sickbait, as they are heavily weighted for long casts and have a slow sink. A slow sweeping retrieve is all that is needed, and helps keep the lure in the strike zone as long as possible. SNAPPER The snapper fishing has been relatively quiet for

MULLOWAY Now is the prime time to target these silver ghosts as they school up in big numbers in the southern bay. Whenever I get asked about how to target mulloway, the most critical part is using your sounder. These fish will quite often move around, so

as close to fish as possible. These fish are generally pretty lazy and won’t travel far to chase a lure down, so making sure that you keep that lure right on the fish is important. I like to use soft plastics for mulloway, with a 1/2oz jighead, as this allows me to sink the lure down

This is a typical side scan image, showing a big school of mulloway on the left-hand side of the screen. the past few weeks, but I expect that will change as we move towards summer and the bigger fish move back into the bay. Anglers putting in the time have reaped the rewards with good pan-sized fish. You’ve got to get in early though, as the fish have been feeding just as the sun hits the horizon, and then moving on very shortly after. Peel Artificial and Harry Atkinson Reef are the best bets, fishing soft plastics and micro-jigs has seen fish landed.

making sure that your lure is in front of the fish’s face is crucial. At times I will sound around for hours before making a cast. It seems a bit crazy, but when you find that big school of fish, it is well worth the effort! I like to use Side Scan to cover large areas of ground as I sound around, and with the Lowrance Structure Scan I can view 50m either side of the boat, which saves a lot of time when locating the schools of fish. Once you do find the schools, drop down a lure

quick enough straight into the schools. My go-to lure is the 4” ZMan Curly TailZ StreakZ in the baby bass colour. I have lost count of the amount of mulloway I have caught on that particular lure! Hopefully we get some good weather and we can get out there this month! I know I can’t wait to get stuck into some mulloway and snapper. • If you have any success or a story you would like to share, send it through to nabs12@gmail.com and I will do my best to get in in the magazine!

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Spoilt for choice: sport and table fare on offer BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

October is a good month for anglers fishing waters within the Moreton Bay region. The bay, creeks, rivers and estuaries offer an array of worthy sportfishing targets, and quality table fare. Species commonly caught include school mackerel, threadfin, mangrove jack, flathead, crabs, estuary cod, snapper and numerous others. Throughout the month you will still have a chance of scoring a few squid, mulloway and perhaps even the odd decent tailor. Pelagics such as mac tuna, bonito, longtail tuna and cobia may also be around in varied numbers for anglers venturing throughout the bay. The weather and fishing action have warmed in unison, so now is a good time to get out and target a few of these beauties. MANGROVE JACK A favoured estuarine target for serious anglers during October is the crimson assailant called the mangrove jack. There’s a band of hardcore jack anglers who spend huge amounts of time on the water learning the jack’s habits, becoming intimate with the waterways they fish. These anglers regularly produce the goods on the red fish, which goes to show that there’s no substitute for time on

the water. Mangrove jack like to hunt and reside around prominent structure. This includes rock walls, bridge pylons, mangrove snags, pontoons, jetties and almost any submerged structure. Water flow is important, as the jacks rely on flows to bring foods like baitfish, prawns, crabs and other

morsels. They will dart from their lair, engulf food and return to cover in the blink of an eye. For the angler, this highlights a need for lightning fast reflexes, a sturdy drag setting, positive thumb lock on the spool and

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lack of stretch are positives for targeting jacks. Serious jack anglers will release the majority of their catches, as they appreciate the sporting prowess of the fish more than its eating quality. They want to ensure they catch quality jacks for years to come. Jacks have a minimum size limit of 35cm with a bag limit of 5. You’re best to

Mangrove jack are a highly prized capture in the estuaries for most keen anglers. Even a moderately sized jack like this can leave you with a frayed line and an astounded look on your face within a split second of the strike.

SIZE MATTERS… MEASURE UP! One metre

a good degree of quality rod work, with some luck to subdue the majority of the better specimens. Lures and baits can both be used to good effect on jacks. Live offerings such as herring, mullet, prawns and pike will all produce strikes. Occasionally these same dead baits, as well as mullet and other fillet, strips will

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work. However, most keen anglers choose lures in their search, as they can cover a lot of water, and put their offerings close to structure where the jacks lurk. Diving minnow lures, soft plastics, poppers, vibration baits and numerous others can be employed to get strikes. Suspending lures can be paused and worked slowly in front of structure to tempt hesitant fish. Soft plastics can be rigged in a weedless fashion to be worked over or adjacent to heavy structure without fouling. TT SnakelockZ are ideal for fishing plastic shads and crustacean profiles on, and will rarely foul up when worked through tough structure. The canal systems and populated river systems such as the Coomera and Nerang have plenty of structure, which makes them ideal jack habitats. The currents flow and eddy past these structures – jacks will lurk in the calmer areas of water, waiting for an opportunistic feed. Cast your lures close to these zones to increase your chances. Accurate casting is highly important. A few feet, where your lure lands, can be the difference between getting a strike or not. Most anglers use baitcasting tackle, as it lends itself to more accurate casting, but quality spin outfits will also suffice. Anglers commonly use line classes of 7-15kg, mainly braid, as its castability and

minimise your take of this iconic estuarine brawler. FLATHEAD Great numbers of flathead have already been caught this season, by anglers fishing the estuarine systems in Southern Queensland. Numerous crocodiles, large flathead to over 90cm, have

At this time of year, flathead are often found in numbers, with one large female surrounded by numerous smaller males. If you catch one fish in an area, it’s worth subsequent casts, as you’re likely to catch several more. The size slot for flathead is 40-75cm with a bag limit of five fish per person. Any fish not destined for the table, especially larger females, should be handled carefully and released quickly to guarantee their chances of survival. Learning your waterway is definitely the key to consistent success on flathead. Know where the flathead are likely to be at certain stages of the tide. Work the upper areas of flats and shallow gutters on the higher stages of the tide, the edges of major banks and flats as the tide begins to fall, and the deeper main channels and holes towards the low tide. Probably the easiest fishing opportunities come from trolling minnow lures, or casting plastics and vibration baits, along the edges of major banks systems during the first of the run out tide. Drift baits like hardiheads, whitebait and pilchards in the main channels towards the lower stages of the tide – this is an easy way for inexperienced anglers to get amongst a few flatties. CRABS As the waters begin to warm, the presence of crabs will become more noticeable within the estuaries and bay.

bag. Set your pots further up the creek, river and estuarine systems for the best chance at scoring mud crabs. The deeper holes, collapsed mangrove banks, small gutters and drains feeding off the mangrove flats, are prime areas to set your pots. Leaving your pots to soak for at least a few hours, preferably over a tidal change will heighten your chances. Set your pots overnight to almost guarantee success, if you set in the right environment – muddies will move around to feed during the darkened hours. Sand and blue swimmer crabs become more prominent towards the mouth of creeks and estuaries, and well out into the bay. Set pots along the edges of the channels and riverbeds, along the outer contours of the bay islands and in major channels – it will likely reward. Check your pots every few hours and don’t venturing too far from them, because pot theft is all too common. There are differing size and bag limits for crab species, and differing ways to measure them, so check regulations on crabbing and apparatus before venturing out. ESTUARY COD As the water temperatures rise, the activity of estuary cod will also increase. While these are regularly taken as by-catch of anglers targeting mangrove jack, specific targeting can increase your chances for both black-spot and gold-spot estuary cod. Both species are commonly taken around prominent

While estuary cod are often taken as by-catch when jack fishing, some quality specimens are also recorded from Moreton Bay. Mark recently scored this one on a Thumpertail from the Harry Atkinson. been caught and released over the last two months or so. Sessions can produce excess of thirty flathead per angler, with an intimate knowledge of the waterway.

Both sand and mud crabs will be available, for those setting safety pots with baits like fish frames, chicken carcasses, whole mullet or even a few pillies in a mesh

structure, but they like to lurk around rock walls. This provides them with plenty of recesses and cavities between the rocks, where they can lurk and hunt in

ambush mode. The rock walls at the mouth of the canal systems, the Sunken Wall in the Brisbane River and the retaining wall at the mouth are good areas to target estuary cod. Additionally, the rock walls surrounding Mud Island, the shallow reefs surrounding the bay islands, and the deep structures offered by the artificial reefs, all provide good estuary cod habitats. Cod love crabs, therefore any rock walls sporting a resident population of crab is likely to hold some quality cod. Banging and rattling your lures across these structures is likely to attract attention. Deep diving minnow lures and soft plastics are prime offerings for cod. Once the strike’s on, you’ll need some quality rod work and serious drag to pry the cod away from structure and prevent them from burying you back between the rock crevices. Although they often sport an unpleasant smell from their digestive juices after captures, their flesh is white and flavoursome. SCHOOL MACKEREL Numbers of school mackerel will increase throughout the month within Moreton Bay. The Rous Channel is usually one of the more reliable spots

Mud crabs will be located in the estuaries in decent numbers throughout October. Ensure you’re familiar with the different ways of measuring mud and sand crabs, and that your crabbing apparatus complies with legal requirements. during October, but most of the major channels will hold a few decent schoolies. Towards the upper stages of the tide, school mackerel can often be located up on top of the major banks systems, such as Middle and Tangalooma banks. They can be tempted with fast trolled minnow lures. I use lures between 90-120mm and troll them across the top of the flats as fast as possible on 10lb braid. As the tide turns and

begins to fall, the edges of these flats are often worth some attention with your minnow lures, trolled spoons or drifted pilchards. Jig the beacons in the northern bay with chromed slugs and slices, or drift pilchards into the depths adjacent them for another way to score schoolies. The Measured Mile is often a good option on an early morning rising tide, for anglers floating pilchards. A steady stream of finely

sliced pilchard pieces can bring the action to your area. Trolling spoons behind paravanes is a popular and successful way to probe the deeper channels such as the upper reaches of the Rous, the Pearl, Rainbow and Little Ships Channel. See last month’s QFM for the basics of rigging these spoons and paravanes. Even the deeper channels wide of the bay islands can hold decent quality school mackerel during October. If you are

fishing on the drift around the bay islands or the artificial reefs, it will generally pay to have a pilchard rigged on ganged hooks out behind the boat as the occasional school mackerel will be lurking in these zones. THREADFIN SALMON As the water temperatures begin to warm, we’ll see greater concentrations of threadfin salmon in the lower reaches of the Brisbane River, and other major river systems of the South East. Good numbers of threadies have been caught in the Logan, as well as the Caboolture River, Pine River, Pumicestone Passage waters and other systems. Threadies seem to have a decent hold on most waterways of Southern Queensland, and we’re also seeing a marked increase in the capture of species like barramundi, grunter, queenfish and other species considered tropical water fare. Threadfin are easy to locate with side imaging sounders, as they show up prominently. They’re commonly along the edges of the drop-offs into the main riverbed and submerged ledges. They respond to a broad array of lures and I’ve taken them on vibration baits, soft plastics (curl-tails, prawn profiles and shad styles), flies and minnow lures.

Additionally, anglers have used micro jigs, poppers, stickbaits and sliders to good effect. Good places to begin your search in the Brisbane River include the dredge holes along the retaining wall at the mouth, Clara’s Rocks, the rocky ledge upriver from the beacon, near the sewerage shute, and the drop-off into the main riverbed adjacent to the oil pipeline. These areas can be probed with lures, or you can take the relaxed approach and soak a few live baits such as herring, mullet, large prawns and pike. CONCLUSION October is an interesting month for anglers as you encounter an array of species. In addition to those highlighted through this article, there’s a good chance of getting amongst a few cobia, longtail tuna, snapper, sweetlip and tuskfish while fishing Moreton Bay. Angler in estuaries will find tarpon, trevally, mulloway, bream, whiting and other desirables. You never know what will eat your lure or bait next. We’re very lucky to have such variety in Southern Queensland with estuarine, freshwater, bay and bluewater targets on offer. The fish are out there and hungry, so get into the sunshine and get amongst them.

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We’ll still be on the hunt for reds this October BRISBANE OFFSHORE

John Gooding

Solid catches of snapper have kept us busy on charters of late, and there has been some quality fish amongst them. On the odd trip, they have been a little tougher, but that usually coincides with either a lack of current or getting blown quickly across the reef, rather than along it. From all reports, there’s

see consistent catches of snapper coming from the Gold Coast area. The past few years has seen snapper numbers going pretty strong until at least Christmas, and I don’t see this year as being any different. As I’ve mentioned in previous reports, the number of quality fish getting caught is a great thing to see, as we had a couple of years where the size was down a little, but it’s amazing how nature can turn things around!

as big fish love a lightlyweighted bait and will burn your fingers if you’re not concentrating. In past years, we’ve had to drive away from feeding snapper with only one per angler, as they’ve been better than 70cm. As the water temperature starts to rise a little, those anglers chasing kingfish and amberjack should see them schooling up and be keen to hit both live baits and jigs. The ledges on both the 37 and 42 fathom lines along with the isolated wrecks should hold fish, but let’s hope sharks aren’t as

much of a problem as they have been. Down south of Point Lookout, the Cathedrals and the 50-60m line to the south has and will continue to produce good snapper in the coming months, along with mulloway for the anglers dropping lines around some of the higher pinnacles. • Until next month, enjoy your fishing, take care on the coastal bars and if you’d like to join me on charter (max. 8 persons) give me a call on 07 3822 9527 or 0418 738 750 or visit my new website www. outlawcharters.com.au.

A nice knobby that took a lightlyweighted rig in shallow water.

Another bag out of quality snapper, which should hang around until Christmas. been some great catches of snapper coming from both up and down the coast, and it’s especially good to

In the next couple of months, fishing east of the South Passage Bar gives us plenty of options, and one

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area I like to fish at this time of year is the Shallow Tempest area, which is north of the Hendersons Rock Green Zone. This area always seems to get a lot of baitfish at this time of year, and you can end up with a real mixed bag of quality table fish! Large snapper move

into the area to feed after they have spawned, along with spangled area emperor, mulloway, cobia, amberjack and yellowtail kingfish. After freespool fishing in water depths between 60-90m, it’s an absolute delight to fish in water in 30-40m. As always, fish as light as possible and stay alert,

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Post-rain fishing is picking up NORTHERN BAY

Grayson Fong graysonfong@bigpond.com

After a tumultuous start to our spring, it has been good to finally see some short but welcomed breaks in the weather, giving anglers the chance to venture out into their favourite fishing jaunts. As warmer currents make their way down the coast from Far North Queensland, it’s not long until our seasonal warmer weather patterns get into full swing, making it a great time to hit all our major estuaries in the northern bay, like Cabbage Tree Creek, Pine River, Caboolture River and Pumicestone Passage. Bream, flathead, whiting and blue sand crabs are just some of the major species on the cards for the warmer months, making the waterways a busy place.

PINE RIVER This estuary system has probably suffered the most ‘Mondayitis’ for the first part of spring, but is showing good signs of bouncing back to its usual self. The Pine has a tendency to work better during times of wet weather. Bait is pushed down from the upper reaches and into many deeper sections of the system. This brings predators like bream, flathead, mulloway and threadfin into the area. Flathead numbers are starting to grow under the bridges at the mouth. Anglers find good success with larger grub style soft plastics. Larger breeding flathead should start to appear more regularly in the Pine over next few warmer months with trailing males helping the population grow. Post-rain dirty water has been the saviour for many flathead fishers of late in the

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upper reaches – feeder creeks, drains and run offs fire up immediately after a wet spell. Zman 4” StreakZ Curly TailZ, Pro Lure Live Yabbies and ZMan 3” MinnowZ have been the standouts. Medium weighted fresh mullet strips rigged on a 1/0 hook are the popular choice of baitfishers. Bream have been slow in the lower aspects of the river, but upriver has been the pick of areas, especially at the top of the tide and the start of the run out. The highway bridge has been holding the better size bream of late – stick minnows, soft plastics and Cranka Crabs work well when fished close to the pylons. An ultra slow, almost deadstick retrieve is the most effective way to fish those presentations. REDCLIFFE PENINSULA The Peninsula has started to shake off its winter woollies and is starting to get the skates on for another warm season. Redcliffe suffers during times of low rainfall with high water visibility being the bane of many anglers, as it makes fish skittish and hard to catch. Some recent rain periods have been a blessing for Redcliffe, as the stirred waters bring about better bites, especially as the sun gets higher. Bait schools have been much more prominent of late, which has fired up the odd

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decent juvenile snapper in recent trips. Many smiles and tears arrived after short-lived battles. The upper end of the peninsula has been producing good flathead around the weedladen mud flats of Deception Bay. Anglers are cautious not to get stuck high and dry during the ebbing tides. Again, soft plastics have been the mainstay attack with shad style plastics like Fish Arrow Flash J jerkbaits and Gulp Power Minnows. Hardbody lures have been the recipe for success this month for bream on the peninsula with natural colours being more successful during times of high water visibility. Deep Cranka Cranks, Ecooda Mini Cranks, Pontoon 21 Crack Jack 48s and Daiwa Presso Rolling Cranks have been the best hardbodies. Erratic retrieves with the occasional pause account for some solid catches. With rising water temperatures, the presence of weed has slowly decreased, making lure fishing more bearable. Estuary cod have also been showing their faces throughout the system with these lure stealers making some sessions expensive. Heavier leaders have been a saving grace, but don’t fish too heavy – you’ll start to compromise your bite rate. PUMICESTONE PASSAGE This has been the pick of areas in the northern bay this month. The bread and butter species are keeping anglers more than occupied. Bream,

Jesse Gough with some lovely Pine River bream. Bream have been prominent in the canals during lower lit hours and on the flats outside Ningi, Elimbah, Toorbul and Glasshouse creeks during the fuller tides. Flathead reports have been concentrated around Bongaree to Buckleys Hole with Toorbul, Donnybrook and Poverty creeks all producing good fish. Sand whiting have

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Enjoy crossover season CALOUNDRA

Damian Parker dpfishingmonthly@hotmail.com

The good fishing has continued to flow as our water temperature increases. The pelagic specimens have started to fire across the Sunshine Coast, with good numbers of cobia, mulloway,

repeat this process a few times until you get a strike. I generally use 20lb braid main line with a 10-15kg leader for best results. Caloundra 12 Mile and wider Caloundra have been on fire with quality fish being boasted, including snapper, pearl perch, yellowtail kingfish and mulloway. The wrecks around this area have been fishing exceptionally

emperor family. This is also a great area to target pelagic species at this time of the year. Always be on the lookout when you are over the Barwon Banks for bait schools, working birds or dolphins, because wherever the surface is active, there is usually fish below. We are moving into a transitional period of the year where our water

Noel doesn’t mind getting into the kingfish. He caught this one wide of Caloundra.

Ross nailed this mulloway from a local wreck. yellowtail kingfish and mackerel on the chew. Currimundi, Inner Gneering and Coolum reefs are all producing quality school mackerel and longtail tuna with some specimens exceeding 10kg. Bait schools have been plentiful and these pelagic species have been hitting them hard. When

well, especially around the moon and tide phases. Wider Caloundra through to Barwon Banks have kept anglers busy on the troll with reports of mahimahi, small black marlin and sailfish hitting lures. Always lookout for working birds and current lines in the water and set your spread of lures

temperature will vary anywhere between 20-23°C, so we have a choice of bottom fishing or trolling the surface for a pelagics. Always be on the lookout for any debris or floating objects whilst fishing waters from 40m and deeper for the presence of mahimahi. These beautiful fish love to linger below anything

Dallas with a cobia caught from Murphys Reef. approaching a bait school, take a stealth approach and motor up slowly. I like to cast a 20-30g chrome slug over the school and give it 5-10 seconds to sink, and then quickly retrieve it through the school. Hook-ups will generally occur with this method, although you may have to

effectively. I often run a mixture of skirted and hardbodied diving lures and often a skipping gar quite close to the back of my boat. The Barwon Banks are continuing to produce quality numbers of snapper, tuskfish, pearl perch, yellowtail kingfish, tuna, and various members of the

floating on the surface. Generally, if targeting mahimahi I slow troll whole pilchards or live bait for 99% of my successive hook ups. Although lures can be effective, like I have said before, fresh is best! As the water temperature rises over the next month or two, we will see Spanish

mackerel, yellowfin tuna and wahoo turning up in numbers. So if snapper fishing is starting to bore you, dust off the overhead combos and get ready to do battle. If the deep blue isn’t your thing, then there is always the Gneerings, Murphys and Currimundi reefs for quality sweetlip, juvenile snapper, Maori cod, Moses perch and the odd kingfish. Our estuaries across the Sunshine Coast have been producing quality bream, flathead, mulloway and the occasional mangrove jack. Our ever-popular

Pumicestone Passage had been fishing well over the last month and with the rainfall we have had over the last month. This rain has flushed our creeks and good numbers of quality mud crabs are being potted. Always check size limits of your crabs and release the jennies. Pelican Waters bridge and areas around Military Jetty are good places to take the kids down for an afternoon fish and teach them just how special fishing as a family can be. The Maroochy River had also been producing

quality flathead, bream and some XOS mulloway around the Cod Hole. Potty mullet fished before and after sunset will improve your chances of catching these hard-hitting brutes of fish. The beaches from Coolum to Bribie are always worth a morning or afternoon session for the chance of catching tailor, dart, whiting or mulloway. So over the next month or so, keep your options open. If heading outside, pack a variety of spin and overhead reels, because in October, you never know what you’re going to catch.

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Easily the best fishing at Noosa NOOSA

Peter Wells

October is one of the best times of the year for anglers. The wind drops, water temperatures start to rise and offshore anglers get the best of both worlds. Off the bottom, we see larger snapper, cobia, pearl perch, spangled emperor, sweetlip and a heap of other reef

Shimano Trevala Jigging range is a favourite, with Fuji Alconite guide, Fuji reel seat and a super tough blank. They’re perfect for putting the hurt on big reefies. For those of you excited by the thought of the pelagic season, we’re already starting to see signs of another great season. Traditionally, we see the smaller school mackerel, then the spotted and of course Spanish mackerel, but this year

ground in the hunt for mackerel and can be very productive. The larger faster moving lures seem to be the most successful. Samaki Pacemakers are perfect for the job, as they come in a great range of colours and can be trolled up to 12 knots. The good old pilchard floater is also a great way to tangle with decent pelagics. In the rivers, both Noosa and Maroochy have been outstanding for flathead. The

Matt Sinclair with a stonking snapper caught offshore from Noosa. species. In mid to top water we see great pelagic action with mackerel, tuna and mahi mahi all on the chew. Fishing bottom, micro jigs are the most exciting form of angling to come along in ages. For those of you who are new to this form of fishing, micro jigs are specially designed to mimic a dying baitfish as it makes its way to the bottom – an easy meal for a hungry reef dweller. There are a great many jigs on the market now, but some of the standouts are the Shimano Colt Snipers, Palm Slow Blats and a new comer, the Zerek Chilli Padi. The Chilli Padi is a Tungsten jig, so they’re a lot heavier for their size. Micro jigging rods have also come a long way over the last couple of years. Most major manufactures have a range of both overhead and spin models. For me, the

OCTOBER 2016

the Spanish haven’t moved as far north as they normally do. We’re seeing good Spaniards boated from areas like North, Sunshine and Chardons reefs. Trolling large lures is a great way to cover a lot of

size and bag limits of this species have really worked – outstanding fish have been boated over the last few weeks. Flatties to the magic metre mark are starting to become commonplace, with plenty of

large females well over the 75cm. The great news this time of the year is that flathead tend to nest up and it’s not uncommon to pick up ten or more fish in a session. In the Noosa River, the area upstream from the Tewantin Boat Ramp seems to be the most productive. Weyba Creek and the mouth of Weyba Lake are also good places to bag a big lizard. The area around Woods Bay and the river mouth are also prime spots. In the Maroochy, fishing upstream from Bli Bli Bridge to Bli Bli Islands has been a favourite with locals. Live baits like poddy mullet, prawns and herring will almost guaranteed a result. For the lure anglers, brightly coloured soft plastics seem to be the best performers. I like the new chasebaits from River2Sea in a range of bright colours and sizes. Twin Waters, Maroochy Waters and the Cod Hole all hold some great fish. For those of you that love to troll, the Zerek Tango Shads in pink and red have really been firing. Another great fish that seems to be prolific at this time of the year is trevally, whether it be golden, big-eye, cale cale, diamond or giant, and the river is teeming with them. Bigger fish are down towards the lower parts of the systems,

Martin Chulov with a 85cm flathead.

Young Ruben Helling with a tailor from the beach at Maroochy North Shore. chasing bait into the rivers. Fishing surface for these great predators has to be some of the best fun you can have with a rod in your hand. Walkthe-dog style surface walkers are perfect for chasing trevally and the Bassday Sugapens are awesome performers. Fishing these lures first thing in the morning or late afternoon is best, and if you can time this with an incoming tide you’re almost guaranteed to battle a trev. The other great species we start to see at this time of the year is mangrove jack. A lot of anglers judge their whole year on how many of these piscatorial assassins they can bag over summer. Fishing at night seems to be all important when it comes to jack hunting and live bait will also make a huge difference to the bag. Fishing structure is vital and Noosa has this in spades with all the jetties, pontoons and moored boats. Jacks are an ambush predator and when fishing live baits, you’ll feel the bait start to freak out just before the hit. The key to

bagging a big jack is heavier line to 20lb, heavy leader to 30lb, a good quality reel and a rod with a range of 3-7kg. All of these things will help to cope with the explosive power of the mangrove jack. The beach is another great place to kill a few hours in the evening and the eastern beaches of Noosa and the Noosa North Shore are perfect. The closer gutters have plenty of good quality whiting, dart and bream. For those fishing into the night there are truly decent tailor about. If the moon phase is right, mulloway are on the cards. When fishing the surf, good quality bait is crucial, so that six month old block of pillies from the servo won’t do. Head to your local tackle store and get fresh bait or good quality frozen baits. • For all the latest information log onto www.fishingnoosa. com.au. Drop into Davo’s Tackle world Noosa or Davo’s Northshore Bait & Tackle at Marcoola to find out where the fish are biting, and remember tight lines and bent spines!

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Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

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As far as product launches go, Fusion’s recent gig on the Gold Coast was pretty cool. Food, drinks, boats – all very GC. But by far, the coolest part of the afternoon was the launch of Fusion’s new Stereo Active product, which fills a niche in the market, especially for craft that don’t have a battery or a need for an inbuilt audio rig. What is a StereoActive? Let’s see if I can summarise it into a sentence…. It’s a floating, waterproof, selfpowered radio/stereo that can play off a USB, tune in your favourite AM/FM channel or stream from your phone. PS: it can also keep that phone and your keys dry and unsinkable. Confused? Probably. There’s a lot to this product, so let’s break that sentence down a little and see what it can do. There’s two pieces to the system – the StereoActive

Weighing in at 1.3kg, there’s plenty of features in this IPX7 level waterproof unit that floats! neighbours” level, which will reduce that time a little. The buttons to control the unit are large and sensitive, but intelligently, they’ve been designed to be able to be used with the blade of a paddle. Canoeists, paddleboarders and kayakers will appreciate this when the unit is mounted on the extremities of the craft. Tinnie users will appreciate that the unit can take a beating and a soaking at the same time. As there’s no LCD screen, the system tells you verbally

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The StereoActive/ActiveSafe combination mounts firmly, but also floats in case you do something silly – like drop it in the drink. unit, which houses all of the technology, and the ActiveSafe, which holds your valuables and connects seamlessly to the base mounting plate and the StereoActive unit. Still confused? Might be easier to watch the video that we made of the Launch event. Scan the QR code hereby or search for the Fishing Monthly YouTube channel. We were lucky enough to corner the lead product designer, Graham Brain, to get it straight from the horse’s mouth. Straight up, the StereoActive is a fully selfcontained sound system that can play AM/FM radio, media from your phone via Bluetooth or as much as you can cram onto a USB memory stick. The battery lasts for around 20 hours, unless you crank up the volume to “I hate the

the functions you have selected. And it can do that in half a dozen languages if you don’t speak Aussie or Kiwi. You can control the unit with a paddle, the buttons, or via a compatible Garmin smart watches via ANT technology or the Fusion-Link App on your phone. Incidentally, the unit’s USB port can also be used as an emergency phone charger – handy if you find yourself out of juice and immobilised on the high seas. Finally, there’s a flat spot on the top of the unit that is ideal for mounting a personal action camera. Both the music and the camera point at you. Selfie nirvana. The second part of the system, the ActiveSafe, works perfectly well as a fully waterproof, floating

sanctuary for things like keys, cards and phones that don’t like getting wet. Plenty of anglers would use just the ActiveSafe alone. After all, who hasn’t sacrificed a car key or smartphone to the boating gods at least once over the years? $129AUD RRP is a small price to pay for the peace of mind that the ActiveSafe alone delivers. The StereoActive system ($399 AUD RRP) connects to your craft with a base plate, the FUSION Puck, that either sticks or screws on. You can lock the StereoActive on to this plate, or you can cascade the ActiveSafe under the StereoActive. If you already have RailBlaza or RAM mounting systems, there are base plate adaptors that allow you to use your existing hardware. Either way, the unit takes about 2 seconds to connect and disconnect, and because the StereoActive is freestanding, you’ll most likely find that you’ll find uses for it that you won’t have thought of while making the initial purchase. Personally, I reckon that even without the raucous cackle of Kerry O’Keefe, I’d be perfectly happy listening to Warner belt a hundred on the StereoActive this summer while barra fishing in North Queensland. Yep. That’d be sweet. Expect to see Fusion’s StereoActive in-stores in Australia by early November 2016 – most likely in your smaller, independent stores straight away. They’d make a cracking Christmas present. For more information visit www. fusionentertainment.com or like the Fusion Stereo Active Facebook page at FusionStereoActive. VIDEO

Scan this QR code on your smartphone to see the full interview with StereoActive designer, Graham Brain. OCTOBER 2016

Big reds are stacking up Inskip Point. They’re only small, but plentiful to pick up a feed. Flathead have been an

RAINBOW BEACH

Ed Falconer

We’ve had a brilliant run of stable weather combined with great fishing. Offshore, snapper have really been on the chew, both in close and out wide. Live yakkas have been the gun bait to target the larger fish, so it’s been well worth the time spent rounding up live baits. The benefit of using live bait is that most fish will have a go at them. Red emperor have been active on our northern grounds. Again, live or fresh yakkas are the go-to for the reds. We continue to pick up some nice pearl perch – I’ve found soft plastics are out-fishing baits with this species. Amberjack have fired up in certain areas offshore and metal jigs are doing the trick there. On the beach, we’ve seen another run of tailor come through, specifically on dusk around the Oaks at

easy target with soft plastics and weighted pilchards proving to be the best baits.

Plenty of snapper are on the chew.

A regular guest on the Keely Rose with a pair of reds to take home.

GREAT SANDY STRAITS On the Great Sandy Straits, flathead have been thick. Pretty much all areas are holding very active flatties. Most soft plastics will work in your favour if you’re targeting them.

As the weather warms up, mud crabs will make their way onto the menu. It’s well worth throwing a couple of pots into your favourite spots now. October is very similar to September and is a good

fishing month, for snapper and red emperor. • To enjoy a day on the water with Keely Rose Fishing Charters phone Ed Falconer 0407 146 151 or visit www. keelyrosefishingcharters .com.au.

Marlin migration making waves in Hervey Bay and bream looking to replenish themselves, as they finish breeding. Soft plastics and

HERVEY BAY

Scott Bradley

hardbodies from 50-120mm are perfect for targeting these species on the flats, up the

creeks and creek mouths and off the jetties and rocks. Summer whiting are also back

marlin81@bigpond.com

Days are getting longer, cold winter mornings are a distant memory – this can mean only one thing, October is here and its time to get cracking! With the influx of warm water we’ve had a change of the guard from winter to summer species – out with the snapper and in with the baby black marlin. Our resident species also fire up as the water warms, giving Fraser Coast anglers many options during one of the windiest months of the year. IN THE BAY Our estuaries are alive with post-spawning flathead

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and Rooneys Point. Fish ranging from 10-30kg can be sight cast, trolled, live baited and even caught on a pilly and gangs. If you’re thinking of giving trolling for marlin a go this year, run your lures from 6-25m from the back of your boat at around 6 knots. Work the Wathumba Creek to Rooneys area in depths of 3-20m of water. A couple of teasers would help the cause, but aren’t essential. If you do this in these areas, you have every chance of catching a marlin and understanding what all the fuss is about. Last year, most of my billfish were caught around Wathumba in less than 10m of water and we had up to 10 shots a day at marlin. You gotta love the Fraser Coast.

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in play and while most anglers target them on baits, they’re suckers for tiny hardbodies, plastics and poppers in shallow water or fished tight amongst the mangroves. ON THE REEFS Our common species of blackall, coral bream and cod are a reliable target this month, having been a common catch through the cooler months. Blue-spot tuskfish come back on the radar and there are still a few juvenile snapper and coral trout kicking around our shallow reefs. BRING ON THE BILLYS! October is the start of the annual migration of juvenile black marlin that move inside Fraser Island. For the next few months, these fish stalk the flats and work bait schools between Arch Cliffs

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Safety first when rock fishing around Fraser FRASER COAST

Phil James p_j_james@bigpond.com

This month will see Fraser Island’s tailor season reach its peak. It’s been a good season so far, but we can now expect the overall quality of catches to improve right into November. During August and September, the headlands and beaches, 400m south of Indian Head to 400m north of Waddy Point, were closed to all forms of fishing. Now that October has arrived, the closure doesn’t apply. We’ll be seeing top tailor spots like the northern faces of Indian Head and Waddy Point lined with keen tailor anglers. I should point out that north of Indian Head, the beaches and headlands of Middle Rocks are zoned green, indicating total closure to fishing throughout the whole year. The August and September closure is intended to give a degree of protection for spawning tailor. Tailor spawn have been identified in the Indian Head to Waddy Point zone, but it’s expected that spawning takes place along most of the Fraser

Island East Coast. One of the biggest concentrations of spawning fish is to be found in this area. It’s always a pity that other species can’t be targeted during these months. On the northern side of Waddy Point, there are sand bars and gutters protected from southeasterly weather. Along with the adjacent inshore rocks, these can produce some good fishing for whiting, bream, dart and flathead. Unfortunately, these areas up to 400m north of Waddy Point are off limits to fishing families during the September school holidays. The same situation exists on the northern side of Indian Head. The opening presents some furious tailor action, for those who don’t mind fishing from potentially crowded rocks along Indian Head’s northern face. It’s interesting to see the enthusiasm of tailor anglers, who can’t wait for the lifting of the closure at noon, 30 September. Of course, Fisheries officers are usually on hand to supervise. Over the last decade of closure openings, we’ve seen spectacular catches where anglers were quickly scoring their bag limits of 20 big tailor. There have

Waddy Point offers some great rock fishing opportunities. been others where scarcely a fish was taken. Now it’s October, we can put that aside for ten months and freely target many species that are found in the previously closed zone. The abrupt faces of Indian Head provide some opportunities for rock fishers, but the prime emphasis must be on safety.

Following the uneven path from the beach along the northern face, a low area of broken rocks extends north, called ‘The Pebbles’. This is a renowned tailor spot, but it can also be good for bream, tarwhine and dart. Sand movement around the headlands is just as fickle as it is along any of the beaches. At times,

deep gutters cut in close to the rocks. At others, otherwise good features are enveloped by sand. Beyond The Pebbles, the track leads to a small uneven platform, known by some as ‘The Gallery’. In good conditions, bream, tarwhine and spotted perch can be taken around the base of the rocks, and offshore boulders.

Of course, this is also a favoured tailor spot. I can’t recommend venturing any further around the headland from here, even though it’s possible to access some more exposed and potentially dangerous vantage points. Returning to the beach on the northern side of the headland, pronounced calm gutters might be there, if conditions have allowed their formation. An ever-changing maze of sandbanks, gutters and lagoons extends north and west from Waddy Point towards Orchid Beach. Boat anglers take advantage of calm gutters to launch in preparation for trips to outer reefs. Whiting, bream, flathead and dart are often abundant here. As well as tailor fishing, the rocks along the northern face fish well for bream, dart and reef species like spotted perch and Moses perch. Beyond here, a slightly elevated platform called ‘The Wall’ affords reasonably safe fishing for bream, reef fish, tailor, dart and mulloway. Access the southern end of the headland by taking the track through dunes behind it.

FISHING FILL-ITS

Fish hotel project – one year later At this time last year, 53 fish hotels were installed in Myall Creek, near Dalby, central Queensland, to both stabilise the creek bank and provide shelter and food sources for native fish. This was followed up

root systems bind together soil and rocks, and dangle into the underwater caves created, forming habitat for shrimp that feed small fish, and providing the surfaces for fish to secure their eggs to.

Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. The Condamine Alliance General Manager of Programs, Andrew McCartney, said that selected native reeds and rushes were also introduced to offer a wealth of food for fish and birds. The roots of these plants also strengthen banks, minimising erosion. “A few months after installing the fish hotels, we commenced the second phase of the project,” Mr McCartney said. “This included planting native vegetation along the river bank, and was an important final step of the restoration project.” After six months, the

native reeds and rushes planted along Myall Creek were already approaching maturity. The local community were happy to see the project’s impact on providing native wildlife habitat. The plants provided a home for small insects and lizards, and cover for water birds who forage for them. Another habitat transformation was occurring underwater. “The plant root systems are designed to bind together soil and rocks, and these dangle into the underwater caves created,” Mr McCartney explained. “They form habitat for shrimp that feed the small fishes, and the surfaces

Freshly planted native rushes and reeds. This photo was taken in October 2015. also provide areas for fish to safely secure the eggs they lay.”

An example of a fish hotel constructed with sleepers and concrete. Image courtesy emrprojectsummaries.org with the planting of native reeds and rushes, and of riparian vegetation. The local community is now seeing maturing vegetation already providing cover and food for wildlife. Underwater, the plants’

Breaking ground in July of last year, the ambitious river restoration project kicked off with the installation of 53 fish hotels. The dual-purpose structures were designed in conjunction with the

Six months after planting (April 2016), the bankside vegetation is already home to native wildlife.

This restoration project is expected to continue to thrive as the years roll by. “The larger shrubs planted in a scattering along the banks will continue to grow over the coming years,” Mr McCartney said. “As they spread their low canopy, they will increase perching and nest sites for birds and lizards.” The restoration project will provide increased habitat value as the plants become established over the next two to three decades. The Dalby community can expect to welcome more birds, lizards and fish to the area over time. – Fish Habitat Network OCTOBER 2016

Flat conditions are ideal BUNDABERG

Jason Medcalf topwater@bigpond.com

A wet start to spring has fired up the fishing in our region, so it’s time to get the boat on the water! BURNETT RIVER The Burnett has been fishing well with bream, whiting and flathead being on the target list for most anglers and for the most they have been getting a feed. The flathead, of course, have been on the chew and once you have found them they have been there in numbers. Soft plastics have been a real hit with the flathead with 3” Gulp Shrimp in the pepper colour doing the damage for me. There has been schools of threetooth jew in the river and although they don’t grow very large, you can eat them as long as they are fresh and well bled. Mangrove jack have made their presence felt with some local guns

donating a few expensive lures to them around Kirbys Wall and in a few of the deeper holes. Trolling around the many rock walls will see you intercept them, but they are very hard to stop using this technique, as they don’t have far to go to bury you in the rocks. The mouth of the river has produced plenty of flathead and should still do so throughout October. Again, trolling the edges of the sand bars around low tide will put you in with a chance and, once you have caught one, concentrate your efforts in that area. The pelagics have started to show up around the river mouth as the warmer water starts to push the bait schools along the coast, so keep an eye out for diving birds. Jigging lures around the channel markers can be a very effective way of finding fish. The key is to use your fish finder to locate the pylons with the most bait hanging off them. Once you have located schools

Call Jamie today to book your next trip Ph: 0407 434 446

of bait around a pylon, jig metal slices or jigs through the bait, as the predators won’t be far from the bait. I have caught golden snapper (fingermark), giant trevally and all species of mackerel around these pylons using this method; you just have to find the one with the bait on it. BAFFLE CREEK The mouth of Baffle Creek is fishing very well and should just keep firing as the water warms up heading towards summer. Flathead have been like a carpet on the bottom. Again, as its spring, if you find one flathead you should find lots of them and the abundant sand flats at the mouth has many ambush points for flathead to hang out in.

Monsterous flathead are there for anglers willing to put in the effort to find them. Trolling is a great way to look for fish, especially if you haven’t fished this place before. Keep your eye out for creek mouths, junctions and drop-offs. There have been a

few mangrove jack and barramundi turning up down the mouth, with live baits being the most popular method amongst the local anglers. Drop-offs around rock bars have produced

fish, and there is no shortage of rock bars in Baffle Creek to choose from. As the water warms, the fish will start to push upstream, but that may be a month or two away as yet.

Bite time for big barramundi LAKE MONDURAN

Rob Howell

September’s fishing was tough due to light shifty winds, but when the wind stabilises into a constant pattern, the barra get active. There have been plenty of little barra caught over the winter months with a few metre-plus barra mixed in amongst them. These smaller barra were stocked in December last year and they are growing at a rapid rate. Bite times have been finicky through the day, but the very early mornings,

late afternoons and just before dark have been producing the best bites. LURES The Hank Tune Jackall Squirrels and Smash Minnows in the boney, pink eye suji, banana and the new uroko vision wakasagi colours have accounted for the majority of barra being caught over the previous few months. In the soft plastic range, the Happy Rock Big Willies and the ever-reliable Pro Range 110 and 130mm Squidgies have also been working well. MASA FISHING COMP If you are interested

in a great family fishing comp, you can’t go past this one. This year’s fishing classic will be held on 15 and 16 October. There is an abundance of lucky draw prizes up for grabs over the course of the weekend for all adults and junior anglers. The major prize for the biggest barra caught is $1000 cash, $500 for the biggest bass, and $500 for the heaviest catfish. The biggest and best prize drawn over the weekend is a boat, motor and trailer package supplied every year by Adrian’s Marine from Bundy with a value of around $14k. All you

have to do to win this awesome tinny is enter into the competition and hope your lucky number gets drawn out. • Our team here at Lake Monduran look forward to seeing you in the near future for some barra action. For Charter, houseboat and accommodation bookings please contact us email info@lakem.com.au or call us on (07) 4157 3881 or my mobile 0410 599 147. Check out my facebook page for up to date barra info, Lake Monduran Guidelines Fishing Charters.

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Close reefs run rife with great-tasting table fish 1770

Des Carnell

Find some floating debris or a bait school outside our Bunker Group of islands and reefs from October to December, you will find mahimahi. Truly a spectacular pelagic with everything you could want; hard fighting, vivid colour in the water and out, and great eating. These beautiful fish start their local run as the weather warms up, and are most prevalent here in November and December. You won’t find them on our reefs between 1770 and the islands, as they’re normally a deep ocean fish. We often find them outside Lady Musgrave Island towards the shelf in early summer months. Find some noddy terns, over some floating weed or debris. Cast stickbaits into the action. With a swirl of vivid colour, and if you’re lucky – a surface plunge at your lure, will

its head. The female has a gentle sloping head, but unlike most female of any species, the colour is equally as vivid as the male. September was flathead city in the local estuaries. Most anglers did well on soft plastics. Eurimbula Creek, just across the bay and 2km by sea from 1770, was fishing better than Round Hill Creek. It’s just a little more difficult to get to. Grey nomads, who represent much of our fishing population, don’t like crossing the bar at Eurimbula and it’s nearly 30km by 4WD. Despite this, it’s worth the trip. The fishing is rewarding and has great variety. Salmon from the beach, school mulloway in the deep hole near the campground, elbow slapper whiting on the flats, mangrove jack in the holes and flathead on the drop offs into channels make Eurimbula Creek a fishing Nirvana close to 1770. Did I mention barra, November to February? Talking about barra, the thousands of

Trent Jenkins with a Shannon gold-spot cod. confirm one of nature’s most colourful predators, the magic mahimahi. The bull mahimahi has a bump like a snapper on

females that were washed over the dam wall at Awoonga, near Gladstone in the floods a few years ago, are still producing

offspring in our creeks. This should continue to improve our barra fishing. If you fish from a kayak, Eurimbula is a half hour paddle from 1770. You’ll do well on the flathead with the stealth fishing a kayak affords. Please remember, it’s closed to crabbing, but locals pick up crabs by placing their pots 100m outside the mouth of the creek, which is legal. The local trawler wrecks Barcoola, Shannon and Cetacea are supporting the yellowtail king and big trevally schools. They’re great fun on jigs near the wrecks, and when you get them to the surface, you’ll find they have a couple of mates following that can be targeted with stickbaits. If you can get past these thugs, gold-spot cod and other tasty reefies are hanging around the wreck. A wet winter has changed our ecosystem. I’ve lived in 1770 since 1989 and never seen young prawns flicking in the creek in September. I think the coming months are going to be different fishing in our area. Also strange is the huge flock of cormorants, followed by a dozen pelicans, working unusually large bait schools inhabiting Round Hill Creek. Does this mean a very healthy ecosystem, with no industrial or farming run-off? Or is it a result of regular winter rain? I think the latter. We know one thing, early prawns and constant bait schools mean excellent fishing in the months to come. It’s official from the grapevine – Spirit of 1770 will become a new fishing wreck. No news is good news in this case. There’s been no news on the local tourist catamaran, which caught fire and sank on its way back to 1770 from Lady Musgrave Island, four months ago. No

Absolute beachfront Campground situated at the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef Safe swimming with our own white sandy beach Excellent small boat mooring in front of the Campground Catch Coral Trout, Red Emperor, Sweetlip etc within an hours boat trip from the Campground

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Bookings please phone 0749 749286 Website: 1770campingground.com.au Email: camping1770@tpg.com.au Bookings essential weekends and school holidays 50

OCTOBER 2016

one was hurt thanks to an excellent local coordinated rescue effort.

The authorities said they were going to salvage it, but that’s now a non-event,

Chris Carnell was smashed by this yellowtail king on the Shannon.

apparently. This means we have a large hull gathering marine growth in 30m of water not far from 1770 – that means great fishing. That brings our fishing wreck count within 30 miles of 1770 to four, all sunk after 1993. Interestingly, our local wrecks all sank in areas containing no reef structure with kilometres of sand around them, meaning zero reef damage. As wrecks do, they create their own ecosystem by growing barnacles, coral, weed and more, then the small fish find shelter and trevally arrive, then kingfish and gold-spot cod. Other reefies follow and you have a fish city, all alone on a sandy bottom for us fishos to have fun. When camping in 1770, stay at the boaties’ paradise, 1770 Camping Ground. See you at 1770 • Stay at 1770 Camping Ground right on the beach at 1770, and for your local fishing advice call Tony or Josh Lunn at Agnes Water 1770 Bait & Tackle, phone (07) 4974 9304.

The attractions of 1770 Sitting in front of your absolute beachfront campsite in 1770 Camping Ground, it looks like you’re on an island watching the sunset over the mainland. This slice of paradise is nestled in a secluded bay facing west on a north facing peninsula. The town is situated between Bundaberg and Gladstone and is a 5.5 hour drive from Brisbane. 1770 and its sister town Agnes Water were underdeveloped in the 1990s, but now they have supermarkets, hotels, motels and more. 1770 has several coral atolls and islands off its coast known as the Bunker Group, which is the most southern part of the Great Barrier Reef. Lady Musgrave Island is a 1.5 hour boat ride from 1770. From June to October Humpback whales pass between the reefs and 1770 on their annual migration. There is a multitude of coral reefs and gravel patches starting as close as 5nm off 1770, producing red emperor, trout, sweetlip, parrot, cobia, mackerel and crayfish. There are fishing charters working out of 1770, and the campground has a great anchorage. The beach has a gentle slope for 60m before deep water, and no box jellyfish, so the swimming is safe for all ages. Estuary anglers have two productive creeks to explore, Round Hill Creek

and Eurimbula Creek 3km across the bay. There is good crabbing in Round Hill in summer, and prawns school in both creeks from January to April. February to Easter is estuary fishing season and the wet. Barra are on the chew, prawns are schooling and the campground is quiet. Easter to September sees a big influx of grey nomads. October to December is when the best reefies are at their peak (just check the reef fin fish closure dates).

Other attractions include golf, tennis, bowls, stand-up paddle board hire, and two national parks for 4WDers to explore. Eurimbula and Middle creeks and Deepwater National Park have sandy tracks that are not unlike Fraser Island’s forested interior. All national parks have campgrounds that can be booked on the internet. Northern campsites have sandflies, so bring repellent. If you want to camp closer to town, the 1770 Campground has all the

The 1770 Camping Ground provides beachfront views. One of the best local attractions is the LARC (Lighter Amphibious Resupply Cargo Vessel). This ex-army aquatic vehicle does both local tours and full-day tours to Bustard Head lighthouse, crossing three creeks.

facilities you need. There are amenities blocks with 25 showers and toilets, a coin-operated laundry, camp kitchen, free Wi Fi, kiosk, and a beachfront restaurant. For more info visit www.1770campingground. com.au. - Des Carnell

Estuaries flick the on switch GLADSTONE

Eve Malone eve.dave42@gmail.com

To say that we live in a unique area of Queensland is a fair understatement, as we are surrounded by industrial bright lights, intricate and abundant rivers and creeks and a harbour dotted with islands that lead us out to open waters where the fishing opportunities are endless. We reap the rewards of our southern and northern species, with our fish varieties covering a broader spectrum than most areas. One that comes to mind is the barramundi. While salties are present in healthy numbers here, nature gave our rivers a big boost, as most know with the floods of 2011 pushed thousands of them into our rivers and throughout our harbour. Awoonga’s fishing has been affected, but over the time it’s sharpening its pencil and is coming back to its former glory.

I, like most of the readers out there, learn from what I read and who I speak to. But most of all, I learn from putting these things into action and from there it is trial and error. What I do know about

where the fish are holding. The fishing throughout September picked up from some slower times through August, which was great to see. The estuaries have been showing some excellent

Alex Linke with a healthy trout from the reef. Trees and up Port Alma way. The Calliope is still giving up some nice size bream upwards of 38cm, which is a fair healthy sized catch in anyone’s books. The bigger of the flathead that tend to hit around this time of year are in good numbers around the Colosseum, the mouth of Lillies Beach and around the drains toward the mouths in all systems. When chasing flatties, be mindful of size limits, as there have been some big girls caught. The reef areas have been consistent, with the usual suspects showing up, such as your larger red-throat and tuskfish, and we have also

Justin Anderson with a nice estuary threadfin.

Red-throat just keep showing up at the reefs, and they’re one of the better table fish around. With closed season in tidal waters next month from 1 November, now is the time to get the mind switching into gear of where and how to target them before closure. I do not profess to be a guru in any fishing realm, and while I generally catch what I target,

we move through October. Both hardbodied and soft plastic lures work well on the cast, but it should be noted that even though this area is freshwater, it is closed throughout the closed season,

catching barramundi in our waters is that the possibilities are endless, starting in the fresh from Pikes Crossing, which is a major draw card for the avid barra angler, as it produces constantly in the warmer months. We should start seeing some results as

which goes for all waterways east of Awoonga Dam. Efforts concentrated in the upper reaches of The Calliope and Boyne rivers will see more results than downstream, and night time is prime time at the moment. Live mullet is the go-to bait, however white paddle-tail style plastics are doing the job. The harbour and north towards Targinie and Grahams Creek are fishing great at the moment, and again with the creeks, move to the upper reaches and work your way back from there. They go off at night around the full and new moons, and trolling through on the incoming to high tide has been a winner. When fishing inshore this month, try to seek out clear water, fish the full and new moon phases, remember that incoming tides are best, look for bait and structure to flick or troll past, and finally, match your lure depths to your sounder so as to fish

numbers of mulloway, and a few 20kg+ specimens were also caught in the Harbour. Threadies are also picking up their game around South

seen some reports of nice coral trout filtering through, which is exciting. Pelagics have been a little quiet depending on what day you are out, from one day to the next the action can be hot to no activity, but this will improve considerably as we move toward November. That’s it for me this month! I hope we all get out and catch a barra before closure and respect the rules after 1 November. My new boat should be up and running soon, so I hope to be able to give her a few nice runs throughout the month and chase a few mud crabs!

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Great Spanish are about, and this one put a grin on Anthony Tonkin’s face.

ote island m e r r u o .y .. awaits! paradise OCTOBER 2016

Brilliant inshore fishing ROCKHAMPTON

Clayton Nicholls clay94_fishing@live.com.au

Fishing over the last month has been pretty spectacular, from great offshore activity to absolutely brilliant inshore estuary and river fishing. Some key places

Rock for some great pelagic action. Towards the end of October, many anglers start to stack away their offshore gear and arm up with inshore and estuary gear to correlate with the less calm conditions of summer. LAGOONS The freshwater lagoons and creeks around the

October should prove even better. Wake baits are particularly good in the late afternoon as they wiggle across or just under the surface with a constant roll to imitate insects. The lures we’ve been using are the Ecogear SX40, Luckycraft Pointer 48 and Bevy Pop. Using poppers has been

This coral trout was pulled during a recent Keppel trip using a Daiwa Ryoga Bay Jigger and 15lb braid.

Darryl stopped this mid 90cm golden with a Gomoku and Shimano Calcutta 300D. would have to be Nerimbera area for the threadies, any coastal headland for landbased mackerel along with inshore islands like Ship

region are pretty much in full swing with a good deal of surface activity and a couple of tarpon caught on fly gear over September.

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productive, but the fish are really more stuck into sub-surface lures worked along the tree lines. ESTUARIES The common winter season estuarine species are in amongst the mangroves and flats of all the creeks and inlets, particularly Corio Bay. Mangrove jack have been out and more active, falling well to prawn imitations along with bream and flathead. This past month, places like the Fitzroy River and

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taken on live baits at night with lures being easily viable during the day. The areas to target these fish at the moment are the gravel sort of coffee rock in amongst the flats. One of the best live baits in the area at the moment is an adequate supply of poddy mullet – these can be targeted with either a cast net or fish trap. A single 6/0 circle hook pinned through the shoulders of the bait will be easily capable of capturing any of the inquisitive salmon. The typical way of getting barramundi at the moment is to use a variety of soft plastics, most notably ZMan, Gulp and Zerek. Barramundi have been more prominent around the rocky ledges and drop offs. The rocks that emerge with low tide along Victoria parade, especially between the two city bridges, have produced cracker catches. INSHORE REGIONS The inshore regions have been fishing great for the last month. Anglers have been getting great results throwing

Halco Twistys and various other lures off the rocky headlands. Other anglers with the chance to take the boat out have been doing well on heavier Halco Twisties, Gulp Jigging Grubs and Molix jigs, all of which have been used in a similar technique. As you drift a reef patch or other ground structure, drop the jig down, work it up like any other soft plastic and work the bottom half of the water column, unless you see fish on the sounder sitting above that. Once your jig is at the halfway mark in the water column, drop it back down again and keep working it. This technique will help cover a lot of ground, once you can narrow down where the fish are there are many other techniques to use. If you have any fishing photos of the Rockhampton or Capricorn region, feel free to send them through with a brief description of where you caught the fish and how you caught it – clay94_ fishing@live.com.au. Fish light, get the bite.

Warm weather options abound GLADSTONE

FISHING EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME!

Corio Bay have seen a large number of salmon move in, from king threadfin in the creeks to the blues and flat salmon out the front, on flats and beach gutters. Whiting have been caught sitting closer to rocks and rubble than on open water areas. Many people have caught them around the coffee rock areas in Corio Bay, that’s the muddy rock that feels hard but is easy to break. Flathead have been easy to take this year with almost all areas in our region now fishing well for them. Use anything from prawn imitations and soft vibes to the XRap 6 and Pointer 48. A very slow rolling action has been stirring these fish up lately, so have the rod tip down at the water and slowly wind the lure enough that it creates the designed movement. The occasional twitch thrown in never hurts. FITZROY The Nerimbera area of Fitzy has pulled some great threadfins recently, many are

With the water temp rising, barra and jacks should be starting to fire. After the mild winter we had, and the unseasonable rain we received, we’re expecting a cracker season. With the likes of Baffle Creek, Deepwater Creek and Turkey Beach only just down the road, plus the Calliope and Boyne rivers in our backyard, the options are endless. Most of Turkey Beach’s creeks hold good numbers of jacks – especially in the upper reaches where they turn to shallow rock pools with plenty of overhanging shrubs. Plastics like ZMan DieZel MinnowZ, Keitech Easy Shiners and Reflexions 5”

Bammers work best because, unlike hardbodies, you can get them right into the strike zone with less chance of snagging. Skip-casting your plastic, to get it deep into the strike zone, will increase your catch rates. Colours are different in every system, but natural browns, golds and greens seem to be a good bet on most occasions. ZMan’s Houdini being my all-round pick of the bunch. Deepwater and Baffle creeks are two of my favourite jack haunts, with miles of fishable country, from the upper reaches to the mouths and every rock bar in between. THE HARBOUR The harbour has been hit-and-miss. There are good schools of barra but getting them to bite has been a different story. Those anglers who have managed to snag

a few have few have found them sitting in deeper water. Using vibes like Jackall Transams and the Westin Bony Bream have enticed the bite, and have also been picking up golden snapper (fingermark). Any deep structure throughout the harbour will hold golden snapper, from man-made structures to the deep holes such as Tide Island. Big blue salmon are still popping up at places like Quoin Island, Worthington Island and Grahams Creek rock bars. As the weather heats up we can also expect to see XOS grunter in deeper water at places like the shipping channel markers and local wrecks. Toolola Bends has been fishing well for those who put the effort in. Good numbers of barra have been taking plastics like 5” and 7” Zerek

Live Cherabins and Castaic Jerky Js. OFFSHORE Red-throat emperor have been thick in the shallows but the size hasn’t been massive. Plastics and stickbaits have enticed the better fish. The trout bit throughout winter and will start firing up more over the coming months, with the bigger fish taking stickbaits, plastics and micro jigs. The first Fin Fish Closure is from 28 October to 1 November, which is the perfect opportunity to have a crack at the small black marlin run we have. Working the 20m and 30m line from Cape Capricorn all the way down to Bustard Head will put you in the right spot. For advice on skirted pusher colours, sizes, how to rig and how to set your spread, drop into the store and we’ll help.

Critters moving up the creeks YEPPOON

Scott Lynch ifishcq2@bigpond.com

At the moment, there are so many options available to the local anglers; it’s just more a matter of deciding where to go. The creeks and the river are fishing well, and offshore reports have been very pleasing. October usually has a fair run of decent weather, and there are so many options available with the amount of species on the chew. Quite often we get light southeasterlies in the morning and northeasterlies in the afternoon. This makes for comfortable offshore trips, where the majority of our wide fishing is done from east to north of Yeppoon. Coral trout are here in good quantity from the deep water blue-spots to the barred-cheeks in very shallow waters. Barredcheek trout can be pretty easy to find in the waters around all of our local islands and most of the headlands heading north from Rockhampton. Look around either coral or rock structures from a couple of metres to 20m or more where they face into prevailing conditions. They also prefer shaly plate type rock structures where they have cover from the sides and above. They will sit looking out watching for a feed to come to them. We have found that the majority of trout will sit on the pressure side of a feature and we seem to get very few on the lee side. As a rule, the bigger barred-cheeks are in the deeper parts of their range while you can catch just under to just legals in as little as two metres of water. There are lots of spearos and other fishers around The Keppels, so the bigger fish are always a bit harder to find, however most of them disregard spots that definitely hold fish. My suggestion is to try any of the rubble country away from all the other boats and remember the country facing into the conditions is best. Many of our trout are still coming from plastics and the more natural colours have been working the best. The larger prawn colours in paddletail style are my go-to at the moment. The only issue we are finding is the tremendous amount of wire-netting and gold-spot cod around. Vibes are another great trout catcher where you can get them close to the bottom. Their issue is the cost when you tally the losses at the end of the day. Trout will take nearly any type of lure you can get to the zone, although we still get a few that take lures and baits meant for mackerel at times. Blue-spot or footballer trout have come in a bit from the deep country lately and more captures are occurring in the waters just past the islands

in 20-30m. Live baits and big fresh slabs are the preferred presentations, although many trout get taken on a common old pilly. The option of a

is to watch your sounder and locate the schools. Downstream from the bridges near the moored boats is one of the better areas,

Connor Duffy from Frogleys Offshore threw around some Atomic Prongs to land this top flatty. reasonable sized livey takes all the pickers and smaller fish out of play. When you do get something on a big livey, it’s usually a substantial fish, even when it isn’t a trout. Our red emperor spots hold quality trout closer to the structures than the rubblier country preferred by the reds. Largemouth nannygai are in form of late and this time of year is normally prime time. They can be taken among the big reds at the wider fern country at about 60m or more. They also come in quite close to the pinnacle type spots, the ferny rubble patches, and all of the wrecks. If you don’t have set spots and are travelling any distance to chase other stuff, it pays to check out the contours. The little contour circles on the charts signal there is some type of feature, whether it’s a rise or a hole. These are the places to look for a number of species and any time these combine with bait schools there should be reds, nannies or some other predators in the close proximity. Some of the local northern grunter spots are great nanny grounds too, and you will find the nannies around the bigger part of the structures, while the grunters are often sitting under the current in the trenches or in the pressure waves in front of the structure. Most of the favourite offshore species are very active at the moment, from sweetlip to parrot, reds and jobfish. King threadfin fishing has improved and they are moving up the river. As the water is returning to normal, the baitfish have started returning and with them the other fish such as barramundi and king threadfin. There are some top spots where they can be either trolled or cast to almost into the town reaches. The best chance of catching threadies

and the stretch from Gavial Creek downstream is the other excellent spot. When the river is dirty, use the brighter colour lures and when the water is cleaner, use natural colours. Vibes are by far the weapon of choice for the better part of the salmon chasers.

Some of the areas where the king schools hold can be trolled with divers that run just shy of the bottom. We found that rattlers caught more fish in the dirty water. Live bait is usually pretty hard to find in the river, so we catch it from the beach on the way up to Rocky, unless there are prawns about. I still like to have a cast into any of the muddy running gutters along the river banks, because not only is there a chance of a salmon, but barra often wait for a feed in the same place. Barramundi did eventually slow down a bit around the region and are well and truly on the increase again. The bigger fish are moving back into the estuaries. Maybe it’s just the better sounders and sidescan units we have at our fingertips now that make the difference, because I have never seen this amount of barra schooled up in holes. Several of the bigger systems with holes near the mouths have had schools of large barramundi, although the hard part was getting them to take a lure or a bait. We would locate the school and cast everything that could reach them and get no lookers. Sometimes, they would move out of the way of a lure! We tried different tides,

Jason Smithwick with a Keppels coral trout. weather conditions and all the variables we could think of without success. Then all of a sudden, they would go on the chew for a short period and stop again. Now that the weather has warmed a little bit and they are on the move, it

won’t take long until the catch rate takes a hike. Golden snapper (fingermark), mangrove jack, whiting, bream and flathead are the species feeding well at the moment, so it looks like it is going to be a great month.

Boating around Stanage Bay STANAGE BAY

Von Ireland

The Stanage Bay Road is looking good to drive, but it’s gravel so it changes daily. The Council have graded to A1 form, from The Plumtree Boat Ramp to the cattle property, Torilla Plains. From Torilla to Lyndon is good and sealed. The part to slow down for is Glenisla, Banksia and Fernlee. The cattle are looking prime with lush pastures from the winter rainfall. Kangaroos, emus, tortoises, snakes and echidnas cross the road periodically, so keep your camera handy. The estuary, Thirsty Sound, with its 35 odd creeks, has been fishing well for huge bream on small prawn. The salmon are still taking large prawn and herring and mulloway love large squid. Grunter has been caught in abundance on the southwest side of Long Island on the shoals. Large blue and threadfin salmon are around on the southeastern side. Monster Stanage Bay muddies have buried or gone to sea. There is the odd one or two potting, and they are huge and full. As usual in the winter and spring months, expect them

near any rocks, deep water and the northwestern side of Long Island. If you just want adventure, keep a day aside to explore the southern end of Thirsty Sound. If you have the fuel and time, you can quite easily travel to the Herbert, Charon Point, Styx River, Waverley Creek towards Broad Sound and St Lawrence. One can never be bored at Stanage Bay or surrounding areas. The reef, islands and shoals have been fishing well when the wind allows. For the smaller vessels, 5m and upwards, your fishing escapes can be around rock, shoals and reefs of the Dukes, North Point islands, down south to the Northwest Channel, which includes the Skull, Osborn and Lingham islands. Stay well away from the green zones. For bigger boats, with competent skippers, start at the Hexham Group, which takes in seven isles. Further abroad, you have the Percys. Also try southwards toward Ripple and Harrison. Use Stanage Bay for your first and last port of call, lighten your load on your boat trailer and tyres and buy local. Everything from bait, ice and tackle to beer, fuel, beautiful meals, takeaways and convenience food. Selfcontained accommodation is in every suburb, at budget prices for quality. Heaps of

bait and lures in all shapes, colours and sizes are available. • Remember the latest fishing reports are on www.

fishingmonthly.com.au and for queries on Stanage Bay fishing, call me on (07) 4937 3145

Taryn hooked her huge Spanish mackerel, struggled and won the battle alone – what a champion. OCTOBER 2016

The right spots around Mackay MACKAY

Keith Day habdays@bigpond.net.au

October is hotting up and so is the barra fishing with both the saltwater and the freshwater scenes firing on all cylinders. Reports of 80cm+ barra in the salt and fish well over a metre from the dams is enough to get any angler stirred up and on the water. With the closed season due on 1 November, everyone will be in for their last crack at the salties. The ramps and secret spots will have plenty of attention particularly on October’s two sets of neap tides. So far, the barra have been showing up in the usual haunts. A few purchases from the local tackle shops will give you the latest info and what the barra are biting on. For the lure fisher, there are a couple of real safe bets for lure choices. Must haves include soft vibes in a range of sizes and colours, some big paddle-tail plastics, 150mm

the tail working. What could be simpler? No lure will catch fish if it’s not used in the right place. There’s a number of spots close to Mackay that will regularly produce good barra during October, and for the boat angler, the Pioneer River is a good start. Head down towards the mouth to the ‘V’ and work the rocks, converging currents and the hole there. On the southern side of the river along the trainer walls, there’s a number of cut throughs, which are fairly narrow breaks in the walls. At times these spots hold sizeable barra working bait as it’s funnelled through on the making or ebbing tide. The city bridges are an obvious spot to chase a big barra, particularly at night as they patrol the shadow lines created by the bridge lights. Near the Ron Camm Bridge, that’s the highway one, there are rocks both upstream and downstream. The ones on the upstream side are accessible on foot but care is needed and they are probably best

creeks, look for junctions and side gullies and fish them as the tide drops. Any distinct drop off along the edge of the mangroves is also worth peppering with plenty of casts. Moving upstream, look out for rock bars, isolated rocks and any freshly fallen mangroves along the banks, particularly on bends. Deep holes are always worth a look, but often the barra and other species will not be in the bottom of the holes but working the edges. To the south, Bakers, Alligator, Sandy and Rocky Dam creeks are well worth a look, as well as the Sarina Inlet area. Some of these areas have limited foot access, but a boat is always handy, considering the number of crocs around these days. Caution is the key, particularly while throwing a cast net or running a bait net. For the most up to date info, visit our local tackle stores and have a chat – they know the best what, when and where for barra during October.

Mackay’s dam barra just keep getting bigger and better. Geoff Newby caught this solid 114cm barra slow rolling a black and gold Squidgy Slick Rig. or bigger, and reliable hardbodies like the Reidy’s range, Halcos, Koolabungs and similar. For the novice lure angler, I suggest the big paddletails with a range of jighead weights and minimum 5/0 size hooks, as they’re easy to rig and simple to use. Cast out, let it sink and then make a very slow, steady retrieve – just enough to get

fished on the run out and bottom of the tide. Both these spots produce plenty of barra as well as jacks and the odd trevally. I expect the creeks like Reliance, Constant and Murray to the north of the city will get plenty of attention, as well as those around Seaforth where the net free zone is centred. Close to the mouth of these

Our dams continue to fish well with Kinchant and Teemburra going off with metre plus fish on the chew. Kinchant would have to be the most reliable big barra dam in Australia these days and metre fish are now common. Only those over 1.2m really cause much comment. Kinchant is not a hard dam to fish, but it’s one that needs some persistence, as you’ll

often get a few lookers before a hook-up. Weedbeds are the key to the barra in this dam, although some really good barra are trolled up along the old creek bed that runs through the dam. To work the weeds, some weedless rigs are handy as well as surface lures. In more open water, I love the Tango Dancers with that great slow walk the dog action. Their weight and bulk makes them well suited to the long casts down along the front of weed beds or lilies. That long cast means more time to work the lure in the water and more chance of attracting a barra hit. On these lures the hits often come while the lure sits, bobbing up and down and they are explosive hits too. Night time is something special with surface lure fishing for barra. Around the weeds, I use the ZMan Pop Frogz in the largest size, preferably lime green. They can be rigged almost weedless, worked super slowly or with a high rod tip skittered across the water at speed. Barra like them as much as I do! Temmburra is mainly a points fishery – the best fish to be found are at obvious points at either ends of small bays or inlets. Keep an eye on your sounder. If there are shows in deeper water, look around for the nearest, most prominent point and head there quietly. Anchor up and fan casts around, as those barra will move in and out of the shallows to feed on bony bream. The Teemburra timbers are justifiably wellknown as they hold plenty of barra, but the biggest problem is not getting a hook-up. It’s landing a fish among the standing and fallen timber. Temmburra is a wonderful fishery in a very attractive setting. October offers more than barra – the estuaries really come to life in the warmer weather, storms, showers and calm still days. A real mix of weather and species like jacks, golden snapper, estuary cod, threadies, flathead, grunter, bream and whiting provide plenty of fun during the summer months. Many of these species can be found while barra fishing. Live baiters curse pikey

Keeley Barbeler enjoys luring the flats in Sandy Creek and has been scoring plenty of nice flathead on soft plastics worked on top of the flats at high tide. bream, which have a habit of knocking off live prawns intended for barra. Whiting, flathead, bream, dart, and trevally can all be found feeding along our beaches. A well presented yabby is rarely refused by any of these species. Small plastics, clear small hardbodies and vibes will all take these fish and with light gear provide plenty of fun in a beautiful clean environment. The tinnie brigade are all sweating on getting some consistent northerly wind patterns to bring the schools of small bait close inshore. That will signal the start of the small mackerel run. There’s been some odd days of northerlies but the weather has not been the consistent calm mornings, windy afternoons and high humidity that favour this inshore bait

21 KELVIN GROVE STREET, MARYBOROUGH QLD 4650 galeforceboats@galeforceboats.com.au – (07) 4123 2833 54

OCTOBER 2016

movement. They can’t be far away, and I’m looking forward to a nice feed of freshly caught mackerel. Bait also bring marauding tuna, trevally, queenfish, cobia and plenty of sharks in close too, so anglers have plenty of fun in stores between now and Christmas. Local tackle outlet staff know what’s going on and will happily help anglers out. A drive to the end of the southern harbour breakwall is also a good indicator if the bait and mackerel are in, as the anglers can be almost shoulder-to-shoulder here. Mackay offers plenty of variety of fish species in habitats ranging from rainforest streams to the open ocean during October, so why not come and join us here in paradise? See you at the ramp.

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Bill Billson’s Game Fishing School of excellence Stephens Interclub and the Lizard Island Black Marlin Classic), are as long as a tag pole. So yes, we’re talking about a lot of experience here! Early on in a game fishing career, it’s mostly about doing all the wrong things for all the right reasons. If you stick with it, you’ll get there eventually, but to remove a few frustrations it doesn’t hurt to get a leg-up from some of the pros in the industry – either through chartering or practical workshops like

COFFS GAME

Glen Booth

Bill Billson is a legend of Australian game fishing, and rightly so. This year marks his 30th consecutive season as a captain marlin fishing the Great Barrier Reef, in addition to 4 and a half years as crew. His list of state, Australian and world record catches for his clients on conventional tackle as well as saltwater fly, plus tournament wins (including the Port

the ones Bill runs a couple of times each year out of the Gold Coast. This was my first time aboard the 46’ Woodnutt Viking II, and I was impressed by the masses of cockpit room, the light, airy interior, and absence of an aft bulkhead so you’re always just a step or two away from the action – which is perfect when you’ve got a group of nine students and one freeloader (me) all keen to see what’s going on. Bill’s game fishing workshops – a hands-on weekend of practical experience and fishing, are now in their 15th year, with hundreds of anglers having attended and become more rounded bluewater fishos as a result. While there

Captain Billy Billson gives the class a rundown on how to fish heavy tackle out of a chair.

As the morning progressed, the bait began to stack up, presenting a good opportunity to discuss sounder settings and interpretation.

Sam’s switched marlin goes aerial. Note the hook in the lower jaw.

In a multi-species fishery, sometimes you need it all!

Now that’s some teaser reel! Press the ‘in’ button and the skipper can concentrate on directing the switch.

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was a fishing element to the weekend’s program, it wasn’t a fishing charter as such – the anglers were here to learn the finer details about what makes a slick game fishing operation tick. Unfortunately, the southerly change we could see marching inexorably up the coast on Saturday morning meant the piscatorial cart had to be put before the horse for this particular weekend, and the on-water day was conducted first. A light nor’wester dropped out to nothing as the morning progressed. With a nice run of current, blue water, and a couple of flying fish flipping about, the conditions were made for blue marlin. A run-down on how to fish a chair and a bent butt heavy tackle rod was the first item on the agenda. The class kicked off with Bill

explaining the chair’s fittings and how to adjust them to suit different sized anglers. This led to getting the most out of the rod and reel, including the importance of drag adjustments during the fight. A few of the class had some heavy tackle experience – but there’s a world of difference between standup tackle and a heavy chair rod – this was pure gold. Meanwhile, deeper bait was starting to rise off the bottom, and with a number of blue marlin caught in the area the day before, it was looking decidedly fishy. Up on the bridge, we had the perfect position to have depth sounder

readouts and what bait and billfish look like explained. The lure spread was certainly intriguing; just two hooked lures, one on the shotty and one on the second wake wave. On the bridge sat a Lindgren Pitman deep drop electric reel, set up as a teaser reel running a giant 16” Meridian skirted lure in the long ’rigger position, with a couple of rubber flying fish spaced along the leader. Another teaser lure was an oversized Pakula, which was run flat off a teaser pole outfit in what would ordinarily be the short ’rigger slot, guarded by deckhand Sam Baillie. Around 10.30am the release

Kenneth Oppenheimer takes his turn on the big gear with a 180kg blue.

clip went off like a rifle shot and announced a fish in the spread. It switched perfectly, and by the time the teaser lure had vanished, it only had eyes for the veteran Guzman Tube with a hook in it. Student Sam quickly found himself in the chair and putting what he’d just learned into practice. After plenty of aerial activity, an 80kg blue was released after a ten-minute fight. Late morning the call from upstairs was, “Marked one.” Followed

seconds later by, “And another.” Suddenly there was a blue crawling all over the flatline teaser, pouncing on it a couple of times before Sam Baillie whipped it away and the Marlin Magic Tube was the only option left. Kenneth Oppenheimer from Nauru was in the chair and had the 180kg fish up to the boat in reasonably quick time, but then it dogged and a little bit of added drag pressure was called into play to knock it over. Gotta love 130!

Unfortunately, the afternoon light tackle session was killed off by the southerly, but it had been an engrossing day with the big gear in the water. A couple of blues were caught along the way, which was a nice bonus. Day two saw us in the classroom – the fishing cockpit. The class kicked off at 7.30am and ran through until 5.00pm. Comprehensive? You betcha. Bill explained the philosophy of game fishing and why it is important to fish according to the rules set down by the International Game Fishing Association (IGFA) and the Game Fishing Association of Australia (GFAA). Otherwise we might as well all just use 200lb

Top: A perfectly tied Bimini, even in 130. Bottom: It takes some pressure to open up a Jobu. Note the heavy cable wire and the selfamalgamating tape to make the stiff hook rig.

Classroom day, as the southerly blows offshore.

On the leader, but still dogging it.

line and 50’ leaders and be done with it. With the emphasis more on light to medium tackle, we started off with line; colour, diameter, the pluses and minuses of different types such as fluorocarbon, monofilament, Dacron, spooling up techniques, top-shotting reels, and line wear. This evolved into the positives and negatives of fixed guides versus roller guides on rods, and advantages of the same. Basically, stick with fixed guides if maintenance is not your forte, especially in

the lighter line classes, as a non-rolling roller is a pretty poor option. Reels were also covered. A lot of people set their reel drags at 1/3 the breaking strain of the line at strike, but sometimes you’ll get a small fish on heavy tackle so it’s not a bad idea to have lighter settings marked on a bit of tape alongside the drag quadrant. Similarly, check what the strike drag is on top of the stop button and just over it for when you have to stick it to a stubborn fish to break its will. To page 58

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From page 57

Labelling each outfit ‘LR’ for long rigger, ‘SR’ for short rigger and so on is a smart move. With inexperienced or new crew,

there is nothing quite like having someone standing by your elbow and guiding you through the various steps. The plait is an excellent game fishing double knot,

“Pay attention now,” Bill would periodically intone, “because this will be in the exam later...” (There never was any exam, but as any chalky can tell you,

Sam in the chair, putting that heavy tackle tuition into practice as the class watches on. a lot of the time it comes down to idiot-proofing your fishing systems as much as possible. The most hands-on segments for the students were tying a bimini twist and making a wind-on leader. With knot tying you can have a library of knot books and watch every instructional demonstration you like on YouTube, but

but is time consuming to tie and difficult to do in a small boat on a rough day. When done correctly, the Bimini has excellent strength and is quick to tie. Speed is of the essence when tackle needs to be re-rigged in the field. Getting the angles right as the line wraps back around itself is the key to a good bimini.

Rigging live and dead baits was also covered.

it’s a good bit of teaching leverage!). The other advantage of the bimini was tying one in a spare spool of line, so a top shot could be connected in a matter of seconds via a 3-loop cat’s paw. While tinkering with tackle might seem like fun to most of us, time is of the essence when you’re doing it for a living and no crew wants to be up half the night prepping gear. It’s all about putting efficient processes in place (especially when the big white bear is calling). Making wind-on leaders can be a fraught process if not done right, leading to lost fish and terminal tackle, including expensive lures. Consequently, everyone got to make their own, with the teacher examining their work before issuing a pass or fail.

OCTOBER 2016

Spooling up with the line in water cuts down on friction damage as it goes onto the spool.

Kenneth’s blue gets into gear. leader. Self-amalgamating tape rather than electrical tape is a much better way of fixing the eye of the hook to make it a stiff rig, which

Small, seemingly undersize hooks rigged well back in the skirt on heavy cable with the point riding down certainly works on blues.

A Watson’s leaping bonito and a garfish rigged to skip on light and medium/ heavy tackle. Note how the waxed thread running from under the chin to the pectoral fin is tucked under and protected by the gill plate. 58

An apt demonstration at this point was how easily the mono will pull out of the Dacron if a gloved hand grabs it or slips up onto it boatside. When the Dacron loop is pulling along the mono it will almost never slip, but reverse the pull and it will slide out in an instant. This is also why plenty of tight whipping at the Dacron/mono connection is necessary, with Bill preferring half hitches over the use of a bobbin to finish the rig off. Rigging skirted lures for medium to heavy tackle revealed some interesting developments. Stiff hook rigs with heavy multi-strand cable (650lb+) inside the skirt is good for a number of fish before it needs to be replaced, and smallish single hooks rigged with just the eye in the skirt with the points riding down has produced cleaner hook-ups. Jobus are preferred for their strength, although we did straighten one, albeit on the

invariably begins to unravel in the water unless you tie it in place with a piece of dental floss or waxed thread. A good point that Bill made, and one us skirted lure junkies need to note, is maintenance of lures and rigs. If you’ve got 50 lures in your lure roll (and let’s face it, most of us have), it’s hard to ensure they’re all in tip-top condition, with fresh, scufffree leaders, corrosion-free crimps, blemish free cable wire and sharp hooks. Bill feels it’s better to carry a smaller selection of proven

performers so they’re easy to maintain, with backup leaders on hand so they can be re-rigged after a fish if necessary. Of course, a lot of game fish are still caught on bait. Rigging skipping garfish and tuna was also covered, and it was good to see that a use has been found for the pointed tips of lure skirts (which most of us throw out) as a way of streamlining a skip bait and adding a bit of colour to the rig. Now you’d think that there was nothing new in the live baiting field, but using bridles made out of 15-20kg mono makes the connection almost invisible in comparison to the Dacron or rubber bands more commonly used. A uni knot at each end of the bridle (tied with just two or three wraps so it can be easily undone) makes it simple to replace a tired bait. Good stuff. Alternatively, a lumo bead on a traditional light tackle #12 rubber band bridle might be the difference between getting a bite or missing out when deep dropping a live bait for marlin (which, it must be said, Bill is no fan of). And on slow days when the marlin are wary due to boat pressure and a lot of pinging sounders, it sometimes pays to drop down as light as

24kg fluorocarbon leader to get the bite. Another clever live bait rig used is a perfection loop for a snap swivel connection as opposed to a crimped loop or solid ring. This means a sinker can be incorporated into the rig and can be changed or discarded altogether in a matter of seconds. As a follow on from the switch session the previous day, the group did some practice drills freespooling live or dead baits back to an imaginary teased up marlin (almost certainly 1000+ by the way). Rod tip held high, clicker on, with line held between stripping guide and reel with just enough pressure to stop a backlash, but not so much as to spook the fish on the bite (‘the velvet thumb,’ as Bill described it). Drop the tip on the bite, count to five and ease the drag up and hope for a hook-up! Having been actively game fishing for over 30 years, I came away with quite a few tips and alternative approaches to old techniques, so if game fishing is new to you, this is an excellent workshop – well worth doing. Bill can be contacted on 0427 183 159, via email at bill@australianmarlin.com or visit the Viking II website at www.australianmarlin.com.

Weipa deep secrets HERVEY BAY

Jackson Bargenquast

Bottom bashing is an old form of fishing from way back in the day. Whether you’re using lures or bait, if the depth of water is deep or shallow, this form can be deadly on a wide variety of species. The tropical Western Cape York in Queensland

be caught in abundance on the shallow and deep reefs. Lately, I’ve been trying my luck with a lot of bottom fishing and have tried both lures and bait. For bait, just about anything will do the trick in these waters – squid, prawns, or my personal favourite – crabs. Lure fishing requires more technique and skill. The correct lure can sometimes

reef or around structure is using micro and flutter jigs, which can have amazing results. At first, I was unsure about this form of fishing. After trying it on several occasions, I can proudly say it works deadly on many predatory fish. Just about anything that will eat a baitfish will eat a jig. We’ve been catching big black jewies, golden

A nice broad-barred mackerel caught on a Gomoku Koika micro jig.

Evan Ikin displaying his 15kg cobia caught on a plastic. is basically a giant fishrich bay. A huge variety of species can be found, including mackerel, tuna, golden snapper, tuskfish, black jew and many more exceptional sport and table fish. All can

be hard to pinpoint depending on the depth of the area, the amount of current, food sources and the species of fish you’re targeting. One of my favourite ways of fishing on the

snapper and trevally on micro-jigs and flutters. Vicious mackerel have reduced our stock of jigs to a couple chewed blocks of lead. Gomoku Koika jigs have a great action and can be worked over the bottom

with deadly effect. They come from just 20g to well over 80g, so always have a couple in your tackle box when heading out to fish the reef. If jig fishing is not your thing, large soft plastics and even vibes can have similar results. Just have your lure down near the bottom, for as long as possible.

got dusted on the pylons by a big cobia. On top of all this, we hooked some impressive broad barred mackerel at 6-8kg and got bitten off a few times too many. At the end of the day, we had a good feed of fish. I can’t complain. On one of the cape trips Dad returned from, he fished many creeks and

bigger fish and dirty water conditions. There are also curly-tailed versions, which have more finesse and don’t create as much of a commotion. Both come in many colours. My all-time favourite is motor oil. Fishing the bottom with bait or lures requires no small amount of skill. Many species, especially

Giant trevally are known to play dirty around structure and sturdy tackle is required to land these brutes.

A great little jack that destroyed a Storm So-Run paddle-tail soft plastic.

The Channel Markers of Weipa can have seen some pretty extraordinary fish at times. As well as big golden snapper, these beacons are known as a place where mega giant trevally can be caught. Dad and I went on a half-day trip to these beacons, and fished with just Gomoku jigs and Storm plastics. We cleaned up nice fish, landed some tuna and school mackerel from a mixed bait ball, had a shot at a nice tripletail and

rivers from Weipa, nearly to the tip. He’d taken a few packets of Storm So-Run plastics with him. Sadly, few returned after being bitten of by mackerel or cut off on the snags and structure by big fish. The fish he managed to get to the boat included barra, big jacks and massive queenfish, just to name a few. These plastics come in many shapes, sizes and colours. The paddletail version creates a lot of vibration. It’s good for

those like jacks and tuskies, are dirty fighters. They’ll drill you into the bottom any chance they get. To land these fish, always make sure you have quality tackle. A failure in the system could cost you the fish of a lifetime. You need to know a lot about tides and currents, and the best biting times of certain species. Remember size and bag limits – always seek local knowledge. As always, think like a fish! OCTOBER 2016

Big changes at Norval FMG

Nicole Penfold nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au

The MV Norval, the only charter boat that specialises in fishing the remote Marion Reef in the Coral Sea, is being revamped! For starters,

dories, or staying on the mothership. I fished with Norval earlier this year, and I really enjoyed the bottom fishing and pelagic trolling we did on the mothership. However, luring the reefs from a dory was the highlight of my trip. It’s paradise out there, and the

REEF LURING When you’re chasing the likes of coral trout, it’s all about the pressure points – locations where current pushes against structure, such as a reef edge or bommie. This is where you’ll find the bait and the predators. The predators like to sit just out

The author with a beautifully-marked trout taken on a trolled Rapala X-Rap. there’s a new skipper, Adam Cheers – a young gun with years of experience fishing the northern reefs. Whether you want to bottom bash for reefies, troll for dogtooth or do some jigging, Adam will be happy to accommodate you. Norval owner Ron Murphy is also sourcing a 6m+ tender skippered by a guide. This will give clients the choice between fishing with the guide, doing their own thing in one of the 4.2m

strikes are very different from those you get on bait. The fish absolutely smash the lures, and it’s heart-pounding stuff! On this trip I shared a dory with Rick from Seaya Boats and Redcliffe Marine. He’s an expert at shallow water luring, and we had an absolute blast. There isn’t room in this article to cover everything we did, so I’ll focus on what lures we used and how to work them, so you have an idea of what to bring on your Norval adventure.

This really is picturesque country! 60

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of the main current, waiting to ambush baitfish that get swept past. You can fish these spots by anchoring just in front of them and feeding out a bait or working a lure towards the reef edge or bommie. At Marion we found a large pressure point created by a gap in the reef. It allowed the current to pour through, clashing with an upwell rising from the below the reef ledge. Visually, it was a mishmash of every kind of water imaginable – shallow and deep, green and blue, smooth and rough. In a location like this, the bottom feeders like holding in back eddies and slow water whirlpools, feeding off what comes through into the backwater, including scraps from feeding pelagics above. Pelagics can be found pretty much everywhere; wherever there is bait being brought through the upwell, the pelagics will be there. As soon as you see bait on the sounder, you’ll find the predators. At

Top: Fishing from the coral cays is an amazing experience. Above: A bluefin trevally in shallow water fringing a coral cay. the time the dories didn’t have sounders (the new dories do), so we trolled around to find the fish. Some of the best lures were micro jigs. We mostly used 30-80g Samakis and Tactical Fishing jigs, but anything that has a nice, slow flutter, and which you can rip hard when you need to, will catch fish in the right spot. We worked them as we drifted along the edge of the pressure point, and the fish went nuts over them. We lost a lot of gear to trout, GTs and sharks, but that’s par for the course in a place like this. Plastics also caught their share. Two models that worked for us were the ZMan 4” DieZel MinnowZ and 5-7” JerkShadZ. You need to mix up your retrieves to see what works on the day; e.g. try one big lift and slowly lower the rod, or make a number of smaller hops. Another gun soft lure was the Zerek Fish Trap curl-tail vibe. You need only small lifts of the rod tip to work these lures, creating the vibrations that draw the strikes. And while we’re on the subject of vibrations, it’s also worth trying metal vibes. Rick used TTs Switchblades, and got fish using both short lifts and big lifts. When it comes to surface lures, it’s not all about big poppers. Lots of our fish came on stickbaits, such as the Asari GT, Gladiator Searcher, and Rapala Long Cast Shallow. We trolled them as well as casting and retrieving, and caught a wide range of species. Last but not least are the diving minnows, such as Barra Classics, Rapala X-Raps and RMG Scorpions. These were

fantastic around the shallows, where we trolled them past tidal pressure points. We lost count of the species we caught – everything from trout to GTs to jobfish. It wasn’t all about the fishing though; just being in such a pristine location is heavenly. Marion is stunning, with azure water, vibrant reefs and gorgeous coral cays. It’s also an amazing place to dive and snorkel, with visibility to 30m. THE MOTHERSHIP Back on the mothership, the focus was on bottom fishing, and we also trolled for pelagics between drops. There’s a great atmosphere on board, with lots of laughter and good-natured ribbing. It’s hard not to be happy when so many great-eating reefies are hitting the deck, or when big mackerel and tuna are smashing lures. Between the 12 of us

we caught over 20 species – everything from dogtooth tuna to trout and emperors. You just never know what you’ll hook next, which is one of the best things about a trip like this. ABOUT NORVAL Norval operates from Airlie Beach in QLD. This 60ft boat is a long-range specialist, travelling 200nm from land to remote reefs in the Coral Sea including Marion, Diamond Islets, Flinders Reef and Aventong Reef. The boat has spacious, undercover back and side decks, providing miles of fishing room. Clients enjoy home-cooked meals, air-conditioned cabins, hot showers and FREE beer! For more information and videos, check out www. norvalcharters.com.au. I can confidently say you’ll get an unforgettable experience on this boat!

A green jobfish caught on an X-Rap Subwalk. This was one of the smaller jobfish – we got some much bigger specimens on this trip.

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Rampant red on the reef WHITSUNDAYS

Luke Griffiths

We were met with some terrific weather over the past month, which gave most a chance to head out and indulge in some muchneeded fishing. As predicted, the bottom fishing has really improved and we are seeing

the Whitsundays and you don’t have to travel very far to find a good brace of grassies. Another fish you don’t have to travel very far to find is the Indonesian snapper. This little red fish is found throughout the Whitsundays and is often confused with nannygai. There are a few distinguishing features between the two. Indonesian snapper doesn’t grow as big, has canine teeth,

Matt Weston holding a quality barred-cheek coral trout. some fantastic catches. The islands have once again been providing, with solid numbers of good sized coral trout and grass sweetlip making their way into the boat. Early morning and late afternoon are your best bet for coral trout, and grass sweetlip are being caught all day and night. Many may argue that the humble old sweety is just as good, if not better than the trout on the plate, and I reckon they aren’t wrong either. The good news is they are a prevalent species around

and has white edgings to its fins. The nannygai, however, has black edgings to its fins, and doesn’t sport the same big teeth. The little Indonesian snapper are a tasty feed if you are intending on keeping a few for consumption, and usually where you find one you will find plenty more. They do carry a bag limit of five, so do keep that in mind. Another thing to keep in mind when bobbing about is the run of Spanish mackerel still happening out wider

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at the reefs. Although slow around the islands, they have been quite consistent out wide over previous months, so giving them a go if you get out there is a good option. Also, as the water warms, keep an eye out for the odd mahimahi and wahoo, which have been turning up out there amongst the Spanish. The outer reefs have really been producing excellent catches on the bottom as well, which is good to see. Trying your hand on the bottom at the reefs should see you rewarded this month, but do keep an eye out for our Coral Reef Fin Fish Closure, which occurs this month and in November as well. Visit the Fisheries website for details of the closures, you don’t want to be caught out red-faced and facing a large fine. Red is another word that comes to mind this month. The large red emperor and nannygai are still on the charge and some brute 10kg+ models are being frequently caught around the outer

This solid red emperor caught on Renegade fell to a well-presented flesh bait. Offering themselves this month will be the billfish. They will be starting to become more frequent, so if you are keen on hooking a fish and maybe even landing one, these next few months will be your chance. I can hear some of you saying “Come on Griffo, I’ve got no

A nice largemouth nannygai. These guys are a top target this month.

The author displaying a fine example of a red emperor. shoals. These bigger fish are falling for large flesh baits, and a good quality hook and leader are essential, as the bigger red emperor pull very hard and will straighten lesser quality hooks and possess large teeth that can easily chafe through your leader. With this is mind, it is also important to check the integrity of your leader after every fish if you wish to maintain the best chance of landing another. With all this in place, it will be worth the time to go on the hunt for fish of this calibre this month, as they should still be hungry for an offering.

certainly will leave you with a sense of accomplishment. Don’t be afraid to step outside the norm and challenge yourself a little, physically and mentally. Speaking of mental, I’m off to tend to my boy who has decided my doona and couch are an excellent place

interest in catching a marlin or sailfish, I’m a bottom fishing warrior,” which I have had the privilege of hearing a lot. I say privilege, as I have had the privilege of converting a lot of these people into billfish addicts. Catching fish to eat is not always the be-all-end-all, and putting the time and effort into catching a billfish can be quite rewarding, even if it does mean you go fishless a few times. I guarantee that once you do get to witness one in action, you will be keen to see a few more. Honing your skills into raising and landing one

Grant Taylor happy with his mahimahi. Keep an eye out for them around the bait schools as the waters warm.

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to express himself with a paint brush. Cheers and tight lines! • If you’re interested in a game, sport or reef fishing charters around the Whitsundays, give Luke a call on 0429 724 822 or email info@ renegadecharters.com.au.

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Winter didn’t measure up to local expectations AYR

Steve Farmer

The mercury is climbing steadily, spring is on us, and once again northern anglers are left lamenting a winter that didn’t measure up to fishing and boating expectations. Strong winds and unseasonal rain were broken by few of the perfect weather windows we all longed for. When the winds dropped, it was only for a few days. To add to the frustration, when anglers could make a dash for the shoals and reefs, they were hammered by sharks that drastically reduced the take-home catch. If sharks were really bad, anglers had few other options than to pack up and head home. A slight consolation for bluewater anglers, was that whale numbers have been good this winter and often provided an exciting spectacle for boaties on their run out to the shoals. While there have been many reports of bull sharks taking hooked fish in Burdekin creeks, overall, estuary anglers fared

much better. There have been catches of flathead, whiting, grunter and bream across the Burdekin delta over the last few months. As usual, hotspots for these species were the extensive sandflats and channels in the Burdekin River, Hellhole, Groper and Plantation creeks, and Phillips Camp. Grunter is one species, which has steadily increased in quality and numbers. Most creeks are producing school-sized fish and the occasional larger grunter, while trophy fish are coming from Cape Bowling Green, Bowling Green Bay and along the beach north of Alva to a lesser extent. Almost any bait will take grunter. Use yabbies and prawns for smaller fish, or squid, slab mullet and whole herring for the larger fish. Big grunter are also quite partial to a small live mullet fished on a light, running sinker rig. OCTOBER OPTIONS I’m sure I don’t to have to tell you that mangrove jack and barramundi will be the two species most targeted by Burdekin estuary anglers over the next month. With the

Sara Ferguson caught this grunter from the beach north of Alva.

weather warming up, numbers of both species will be increasing, along with their appetites. Jack catches are already ramping up, although the barra scene’s still quiet, with just a few captures reported from the saltwater reaches of the Burdekin River. Early last month, one Plantation Creek angler told of losing “a monster jack” at the boat, way bigger than his previous personal best of 51cm. Most Burdekin estuaries are likely to produce mangrove jack throughout October. Reasonable flathead numbers should be around for a few months. This species is easily targeted on the top of the larger tides during October, and the rest of the year. The best spots to try for barra are the Burdekin River, Bowling Green Bay, Groper and Morriseys Creek and the Haughton River. Anglers may still catch the tail end of the bream run during October, if they target structure and deep channels. Baits of prawn or small slab fished on light tackle will be the best bet. Estuary anglers may

be able to enjoy a little inshore pelagic fishing in the next few months. Smaller mackerel species, trevally and queenfish feed around the mouths of some Burdekin estuaries. Small metal slugs, minnows, soft plastics and live or whole dead baits are likely to attract attention. Fish can be spooky, so anglers may have to live dangerously, dispensing with wire traces in favour of monofilament leaders. As the weather heats up, this could be the time to try a little freshwater fishing. Sooty grunter is a species that bites well during warmer months, although Burdekin fishers will have to travel a bit to find good sooty country. This pugnacious little fish fights hard and is fun to catch on basic, compact tackle. A light spinning outfit and a handful of small lures will give you heaps of fun. Sooties will also take a range of baits including prawns, worms and red meat. Don’t forget barra season closes on 1 November, just weeks away. If you want to catch a barra or two, get cracking.

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Get the barra on the bite TOWNSVILLE

Dave Hodge

Plenty of influencing factors dictate where we fish and how often we get on the water. This year, the biggest influence has been weather. It’s been unfavourable for months on end. The sales in the tackle trade are directly affected by this – if there’s a little window of even one good day, we get smashed.

what’s apparently referred to as ‘power fishing’. This basically means covering water and snags pretty quickly, looking for those actively feeding fish and always looking at the sounder to make sure you don’t pass a deeper opportunity. Often, this is how we catch barra. Having rods rigged with several different lure types means that it’s ready to go at the drop of a hat. Interestingly, deeper fish we find on the sounder haven’t

need to have a lure down there. Bait fishing has been relatively productive for grunter, bream and your normal bread and butter species, and the prawns have been pretty thick so getting the prime bait hasn’t been too much hassle for those handy with a cast net. Fresh live bait has been more effective on the barra also. The water temperature hasn’t dropped to anywhere near where it was last winter, so the onset of the warmer weather shouldn’t take long to kick some life into the barra. TIPS FOR TOWNSVILLE Don’t forget that the freshwater reaches of the Ross River now require a Stocked Impoundment Permit to fish. Some have their noses out of joint about it, but to be honest, it’s about time. The numbers of barra that can be stocked in the weirs should be much larger now. There’s also talk about the Ross Dam finally being stocked with barra. In every single location with a stocked impoundment, the local

There are a few legal sized fish getting around, and smaller lures like a paddle-tailed shad work well when the barra are feeding on small bait. Tannhym pulled this one while working a rock bar in 3m of water. destination. Land-based spots that travelling anglers have access to are very limited, and with net free zones either side of us, the commercial sector has been condensed closer to our home waters, with obvious impacts to all. It’s important to remember here, it’s not the

This chromed-up barra was caught while chasing the run in tide. This is a great time for the hardbodies and small shads in the shallows. The excitement in anglers’ faces is real. For the last six weeks now, unstable weather has affected the inshore fishing severely. When you have the wind coming from five different locations in one day, it doesn’t fare well for species like barra and jacks. We watch our resident barra in the tank at work intently, to see how it’s affected, and it’s a pretty good indicator as to what the wild fish are doing. They are seriously influenced by the barometer – he’ll lay sluggishly on the bottom of the tank for days on end, and then suddenly kick into action for a couple hours, or for the day when he wants to feed. These are the days when anglers report good catches, and its no coincidence. That’s not to say that there’s nothing to catch, and there are rat barra of around 55-60cm still having a go now and then, but it’s a matter of being on the water when they’re going to chew. We hit one snag the other day that had several fish holding in it, and while it took 12 casts to get one over, it was worth the effort. I straighten a hook on a hardbody, and one hook point connected to a fish about 90cm. I had to use lots of thumb to stop him. We pulled a couple of smaller ones around 55cm and had a couple more roll on the lure. Most of the fish have been found while doing

always been barra, but more often GTs, bream, tarpon and grunter. If you’re after big barra, the deeper holes and ledges have been holding a few nice fish. Once you’ve found them, it’s worth flogging the water to foam if you want the bigger fish. In less than 5m, a good way to target them is to tie on a deep diver, like a Poltergeist or Scorpion, cast well past them and retrieve it back slowly around their location. Soft vibes and paddle-tail plastics are sometimes even more effective, as you can subtlety hop right past their noses. When one decides to feed, even for a few minutes, you

OFFSHORE Dare I say it, sharks have been insane. While some believe that they’re just becoming more educated, which makes them seem thicker, this doesn’t make sense to me. The number of pup-sized bities at 2-3ft long is phenomenal. I took the young bloke for a flick, at one of our favourite mangrove lines the other day, and caught more sharks on lures than fish. Numbers are getting way out of hand. If you happen to find a red patch, the only technique to beat them is to go hard on the hook-up, but chances aren’t good. Shallower reefs are another spot for a better

hundred bucks worth of lead on a day’s fishing are far from rare. Try using an extra long mono trace between your main line and hook, up to 2m. You’ll find that you get more of your rig back, if you’re having trouble with this. School macs, doggies and spotties are still about, though not as thick as they were last month. A bit of pellet and fish oil berley may be needed to hold them in your vicinity. The Spanish are plentiful when it’s smooth enough to get our there. All techniques have been working equally at various times, but if you’re trolling a wolfie or gar slowly, it’s worth having a Crazy Deep Scorpion 190

Although not as thick as they were in past weeks, mackerel are still here and show up in unexpected locations. This one took a Halco Paddle Prawn while fishing for other species. Made from RST material, the Paddle Prawns hold up well to teeth. economies have benefitted greatly, so I think it’s a great move for Townsville tourism. I believe that our local council is finally realising that it’s a huge source of revenue being missed for no real reason. Townsville promotes itself as a fishing tourist

You just never know what to expect in the drains and creek mouths, and this flatty took a 120 Laser Pro twitched in water as the tide built.

pro’s fault, as they’re trying to make a living the same as anyone else. There will always be a need for commercially harvested wild fish, but there has to be a way to do it that’s beneficial to everyone. The later generations of commercial netters are extremely aware of the issues surrounding the current structure, and some have thrown their efforts behind the stocking of the weirs. Obviously, many barra go over the weirs and into the salt, when we finally have a wet season – a percentage of these find their way into the fish markets, which benefits the commercial sector. There are certainly anglers who genuinely want to help with the stocking of the fresh to support an environment that makes barra fishing easier for recreational anglers. Some of the pros are working hand in hand with stocking groups to help the cause. This will go a long way in cementing relationships between the two sectors for a beneficial outcome.

There are still a few jacks around, but nowhere near as thick as they were weeks ago. This will change over the next few weeks. chance, until their secret’s discovered. Funnily enough, the further you go out, the less of a problem there is. In less frequented spots, they’re not as conditioned to associate the sound of an outboard with a pending easy feed. Sinker losses on their own have been quite a considerable expense – reports of up to a

pulse away at the same time. Designed to work at 2-5 knots, they’re the perfect choice to expand your options, until you find what works best. That’s it for another month. I hope that as the water warms in the next weeks, the wind might back off a bit as well. Then all will be well. OCTOBER 2016

Brushing off the winter fish HINCHINBROOK

Ryan Moody info@ryanmoodyfishing.com

The fishing has seen its fair share of fluctuations. Constant weather changes have been the catalyst for that. One day, it’s stinking hot, the next its cool again. It’s a wonder there’s no consistency in the fishing. One species showed up earlier than usual – the ‘fingermark’, or golden snapper. Traditionally, November is the best month for them to aggregate. They’ve done so earlier, but not in massive schools just yet. Some fish have been as big as 70cm. Barra have been very finicky with the slightest change in weather sending them down. As you get into a number of dry years, not only does recruitment drop, but the fish are always harder to get a bite from during that winter. It will still take a couple of years of good rains before we reap any rewards.

It’s about the time the Spaniards are at their most aggregated on the outer islands and inner reefs. If there’s been one very consistent species this year, it’s them. People are reporting paddocks of them around Britomart Reef.

Billfish have been a struggle this year, which is a bit strange considering the spawning success of the Spaniards. Quite often they go hand in hand, with spawning success on yearly levels. Many of the light tackle competitions have

Threadfin are on the to-do list this month. They’re even described as pests by gamefishers. It’s great to see such a good season for them. They’ll spawn around the dark moon in October on the inner reefs, and many will start to wander south after that.

been well below par. I hope the heavy tackle season is better than the light tackle. Time will tell as we approach that period soon. Deep sea fishing has been good for those braving the conditions we’ve had,

especially early in the month. As usual, if you can get out to the reef when it’s rough, the fishing is usually pretty good. Calm hot days are when fish can get lockjaw. Most reports have been of good trout and red emperor, on the deeper shoals off the reefs. Nice spangled emperor and tuskies are in the shallows. Red throat emperor have not made a big show this year, which is strange. They seem to be more unpredictable than other species, when it comes to understanding their sustainability. This month, I expect to see barra fire up and get out of this lazy winter mood. It’s our last month of the year to have a crack for them before the season closes on 1 November. It may not be as good an ending to the season as last year, but I’m sure we’ll see some periods of brilliance. The waterways will still fill up with boats as usual, but it’s a pretty big area up here. There’s plenty of room for everyone. If you like casting at drains, it pays to be at your spots early, so

We should see a good return of golden snapper populations during October. someone else don’t work it over before you. I’m expecting a big appearance from golden snapper this month, and also the arrival of the big metre plus threadfin. It’s always exciting when they come on. In short, anglers should brush off their tackle and get out there. October is one of the prime months for many styles of fishing. You can check out our new site

www.fishsmarter.com.au and join the free forum. We also have great free content and our premium courses, with more courses to come this year. • If you would like to book a charter or join our fishing community for some great fishing competitions etc, head on over to www. ryanmoodyfishing.com. And you could also win a free charter drawn twice a year.

A month to target everything! LUCINDA

Jeff Wilton jeffwilton83@hotmail.com

I’m going to start by saying this is my favourite time of the year for fishing out of Lucinda. The transition out of winter can take a while, especially if those persistent southerlies keep blowing. Water temperatures are rising and some days you can feel the humidity start to soar… it feels fishy. We have also been having lots of small storms build up in the afternoon, which really can get the fish fired up. Another reason why this is such a good time to be fishing is the fact that the species list is very open. It is still possible to have fun on the pelagic type fish, but also have a hot session on barra and jacks in the channel. HINCHINBROOK CHANNEL So with the barra season closure starting to loom, everyone wants to get into those iconic chrome barra. The good news is they should be biting well, and all kinds of techniques will work. Live baiting is always a safe option, as if you get yourself some good baits and pick a good spot, you will catch barra. If you are fishing with multiple rods, it’s always a good idea to use different baits. Barra can be picky sometimes, and if they are eating a certain kind of fish 66

OCTOBER 2016

or prawn, they can sometimes ignore everything else. Using a live mullet on one rod and a live herring on another for example hedges your bet. If you find that a certain bait is getting more attention, it’s easy to change over. Chasing barra and jacks on artificial offerings is my preferred method. Finding a good run, using the electric

out. Rigged correctly, they are very snag resistant and allow you to basically let your plastic sink and swim through horrible terrain, without hanging up. They are also excellent for beginner snag fishing, the kids can throw them into trees with less worries. Jacks should be really starting to fire up as NQ warms up. Like barra, they respond

Jacks put smiles on faces. motor to sneak up and lobbing plastics and hardbodied lures into structure is so much fun. This form of fishing does take some practice, and it isn’t fun constantly unhooking lures from trees and snags from wayward casts. As a rule, when fishing snags, the closer you can get your offering to the structure, the more chance you have of provoking a response. This means getting snagged and losing gear, which is part of the game. I talk about them every article, but if you haven’t checked out the TT Snakelockz jigheads, then you are missing

well to baits and lures. But although you do find them on flats and drains, great numbers of jacks normally hang in and around structure. I fish corners of creeks the majority of the time, as corners have undercut banks with a channel and as the main current hits this bank hardest it will have fallen structure. Jacks love some water movement. They just lie in wait deep in the structure and as soon as something is close enough… bang. I’ll share with you an old method I got shown years ago from some lifetime locals of

Lucinda that was and still is a very effective technique. They would anchor about 10m off the snags and allow there bait to float naturally into the strike zone. Half pillies were dynamite, and they would add small split shot sinkers if needing to sink it quicker. These were handline only fishos, and I always noticed when chasing jacks how they would wrap the line several times around there hand and would hit them hard on the strike to turn their heads… the power and speed of jacks is beyond any other fish for their size. JETTY, ISLANDS AND REEF Thanks to persistent winds, the last few months have been horrible for getting out into the bluewater. There have been small windows, but these would only last a day or two at max. On the few days

The top of the list for most anglers who visit Hinchinbrook is barra. the ramp. Results have been good from the reef for most, and there were plenty of reports of big nannygai and emperor biting, especially in the early morning on sunrise. Spanish mackerel have been in good numbers again, and it normally wasn’t difficult to get that drag screaming and add a tasty fish into the esky. Spanish mackerel numbers will be

Flat seas and bent rods shouldn’t be too far away. it was flatter, everyone was on it and there wasn’t a park at

decreasing now, but they will still be about, just find the bait

and you’ll find the mackerel. The jetty has been providing heaps of fun and games over the last few months and this will continue. Morning and evening are always the best times to get out there. Queenies in big schools have been the highlight, along with longtail tuna coming right in and chasing bait through the jetty. Hooking a solid longtail close to the jetty structure is big trouble, as those super quick long runs can see you with 100m of braid being ruined when it comes in contact with the pylons. Golden snapper (fingermark) captures have also been consistent, especially for those fishing with live squid at night. The first few hours of the incoming tide is the best time for golden snapper to bite in my opinion. If you can’t get live or fresh squid, then using live or fresh sardines is second best.

The fishing should warm up with the weather CAIRNS

Garry Smith garrysmith@fishingmonthly.com.au

October typically involves a continuation of extended periods of calm seas and increasing temperatures, interspersed with the odd southeast blast and occasional storm. The fishing is usually hotting up, along with the weather. Warming water temperatures stir up barra, jacks and golden snapper in the estuaries and the trout, red emperor and largemouth nannygai at the reef. Early indications show it’s shaping up to be a cracker coral trout season, with plenty of boats hitting or pushing their bag limits. As temperatures continue to climb, the fishing will tend to become patchier, with cracker fish some days and anglers scratching for some action on others. The reef will continue to be the main attraction for many anglers, whenever the winds allow. Trout will be moving into the shallow waters, as spawning is expected to coincide with the Coral Reef Fin Fish Closure, from 28 October to 1 November. Trout seemed to roe up early this year, with many reports coming through in early September of fully roed up fish. There’s a good chance that many trout have already spawned on the

There should be some serious golden snapper patrolling the wrecks, reefs and rock headlands. lead up to the new moon on 1 October. Over the past three years, coral trout have been the main player at the reef, followed by large-mouth nannygai. Red emperor have put in a sporadic showing, as have red bass, spangled emperor and Moses perch. What the red emperors lack in numbers has been made up for with size, with common fish over 8kgs. Some days in recent years have seen the numbers match the size – boats return to harbour with good numbers of both red emperor and large-mouth nannygai in the 8-10kg mark. There have been other days dominated by grey, and not the usual men in grey suits – painted sweetlips (slatey bream), trevally

of all shapes and sizes and Spanish mackerel. Spaniards will continue to be around but not usually in big numbers. It will still pay to have a floating pilchard, gar, mullet or wolf herring out the back. Live baits will take you one step further up the production line. Live fusilier, hussar, mullet, small trevally or any small reef fish of legal size will increase your chances of tangling with a silver bullet. The heavy tackle season should be in full swing, with mostly the well healed getting into the action. There are still a few small boat owners who chase the big bills, but on the whole, heavy tackle season is for those with heavy bank balances. All the hype focuses

on the ‘Grander’ 1000lb+, but the reality is they’re about as common as a barra over 120cm. For the light tackle brigade, yellowfin tuna and Spanish mackerel will be on the cards. Inshore fishing should be worth a look, with school mackerel still on the agenda, and serious golden snapper patrolling the wrecks, reefs and rock headlands. If the bait schools are around, then northern bluefin tuna will be into the action, along with a few Spanish mackerel. Look for the birds to point you in the right direction. This is the last month to nail a barra before the three month closure and they’ve been more plentiful than usual. Anecdotal evidence indicates the Cairns net free zone, which runs from False Cape Taylors Point, is having a positive impact on fishing in the area. Trinity Inlet has fished significantly better all year and the surrounding beaches have also seen increased numbers of barra and salmon, both king and blue. Trinity Inlet has consistently produced more barra and golden snapper than in the past 20 years that I’ve called Cairns home. Here’s hoping that this month will see the barra and golden snapper action continue to rise with the water temperature. Mangrove jack are not as net vulnerable and have not been so heavily impacted by netting in the past, but

they also seem to be around in better numbers. Mid-sized giant trevally and the odd monster queenfish will be patrolling the drop-offs, sand bars and deep holes, if the salinity stays high. The odd lucky angler will get to tangle with a monster golden trevally, which will also be patrolling the estuaries this month. If you hook into one of these gold medal fighters you are in for a battle! October should see a significant increase in the

especially with the arrival of the northeasterlies. Holloways and Machans beaches will be well worth a look for salmon on the big new and full moon tides at the start, middle and end of the month, especially if they coincide with northeasterly winds. There is a relatively rare astronomical event this month, with two new moons occurring in October. There will be one new moon on the 1 October and a second

Reef jacks, like this one caught by Ben Fielding, are around to add variety to the esky. presence of salmon, both king and blue, particularly this year. The removal of the nets should have a significant impact on this highly net-targeted species. The Cairns northern beaches should be the area where their increased numbers will be most noticeable,

on the 31 October. In some branches of Paganism, particularly Wiccans, this is significant. The second new moon is called the black moon and any magic worked during that period is deemed to be especially powerful. Let’s hope the fishing takes on some magic this month!

Waiting for waters to settle, prime time to come PORT DOUGLAS

Lynton Heffer

Despite there being overall good fishing results in the region, proceedings haven’t quite gone to plan yet. Normally we’d have all sorts of quarry to pick and choose from, but some more prominent species have been neither here nor there. The weather has been stable, with southeasterly winds making a late charge in, associated with a bit of unseasonal rain. Probably the two most notable species, that haven’t fired to be expected, have been part of the pelagic family. On the inshore grounds, the small black marlin run has been mediocre compared to the past couple of years. Now, whatever stocks are present are starting to move towards the shelf for the anticipated breeding period. Sure, there has been some hot patches on these stallions, but the consistency has not been there this time around.

The other species that hasn’t taken a strangle hold is Spanish mackerel. They too have been around in spasmodic patches but not to the regular degree. Typically, they’re around in mass and catching a personal bag limit is no problem. Anglers have had to work harder than normal to source these fish in decent numbers. One theory that can be linked to both mentioned species has been the lack of bait this year, which would make perfect sense. Being a nomadic style of fish, they will go where the food source is concentrated. Unfortunately, the bait seems well spread out and thus translates to less fish being caught. This can quickly transform and we may see a late blossom on these species. In other news, the Far North is bracing itself for the heavy tackle black marlin season, which will see a huge fleet of big boats working our local waters for the next couple of months. To date, there have been several reports of black marlin up to 150lb on the shelf, with the odd fish up to 350lb. The Lizard

Local guide Jake Wyatt with a cracking coral trout caught on the outer reef. Island Tournament mid month is always a good indicator as to how the season will pan out for numbers of fish this year. Ocean currents play a huge role in this outcome, and local skippers are quietly confident that things will go to plan.

On the reef, it’s been tricky to pick the calmer weather of late. Once it’s there, the fishing has continued on nicely. Coral trout, small and large-mouth nannygai, red and spangled emperor, gold-spot and tea-leaf trevally have been up

and about. Cobia continued to show up in numbers and there have been more recordings of exotic species such as barramundi cod, coronation trout, passionfruit trout, baldy bream and others. In general, fish are starting to roe up

already, which indicates things are on track for the reef fin breeding this year. The reef should continue to impress, moving into the coming month – it’s one style of fishing always guaranteed to see some action. The rivers and creeks are moving into their prime time and have been slowly gathering momentum. Barra are far more active and key species, such as mangrove jack and golden snapper, are already approaching top gear. As to be expected, there’s often a healthy supply of mid sized trevally scooting through our systems, along with good numbers of queenfish. The bigger queenfish models around 1m have been registered around our river mouths, headlands and neighboring islands. Hopefully our weather can really settle down, as there are numerous options to choose from, inshore or offshore. October is the best time for wetting a line in the tropics, purely because of activity going on in all departments. OCTOBER 2016

Weather is warming right up in Cooktown Coral trout can be found in depths from 0.5-40m. Troll a couple of hardbody lures around the reef fringes for pelagics, and search the bottom with your sounder for structure holding fish. Once you’ve found some good places to hang the anchor, don’t forget to put a float line out the back for passing Spanish mackerel. Lately, I’ve caught more mackerel using this technique, rather than trolling lures. That’s not usually the case. The water is crystal clear around the river headlands and estuaries at the moment. Queenfish have been chasing the bait right up into estuaries and 1m specimens are being caught. Trevally can be caught in prolific numbers using the same method as chasing queenies. Down towards the mouth of the Annan River is a well-known spot to find these sporty crusaders. Another good spot to fish for queenies and mackerel is at Cooktown’s Wharf, or the open beaches if the winds allow you to get a cast in. Using metallic coloured poppers is one of my favourite methods. You can see the queenies and trevally busting the surface while chasing the poppers. Metal slugs with a high-speed

COOKTOWN

Ben Stack

Cooktown’s breeze has shown signs of backing off, enough for boats to begin hitting the reefs. Currently we’re averaging winds below ten knots one day a fortnight. If you manage to align one of these lulls in the winds with the weekend, then make the most of the reefs. If the lull in the winds falls during the working week, then have your gear pre-prepared and hit the reefs straight after work. Fishing the reefs yields good success at this time of year, because the reefs have had plenty of time to recover and replenish during bad boating weather in winter. Coral trout is being caught according to various reports. To catch this delicious table fish, try hanging your anchor near coral bombies. Float pilchard baits down beside the bombies and use only enough lead to get to the bottom. Another method for catching coral trout is to bounce soft plastics or small metal jigs around structure. However, this can become expensive once you’ve been bricked on the reef a couple of times.

the pylons and wait. Landing big fish at the wharf can be an issue around many oystercovered pylons. If you have a boat, head up any of the rivers and work the snags for barramundi and jacks. Use lures, soft plastics or live baits. Barramundi will be actively chasing their meals to fatten up in time for the breeding season, and that’s a pretty good reason to get in there and chase a few. Remember, only take what you need for a meal and let the rest go. We are now in our last month of catching barramundi before the season closes at midday on 1 November , so get amongst it while you can. Chasing mangrove jacks, mudcrabs and other estuary species up the rivers or around the

The author’s solo trip produced his first barramundi cod. This fish was released after the photo. retrieve are also effective for these speedy crusaders. The water has warmed up for the barramundi and

mangrove jacks. Some quality catches have come from the wharf in Cooktown. Simply send down live bait around

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wharf is still awesome after 1 November. Lakefield National Park will be quite warm for camping during October. The warm weather chases most of the crowds away and you’ll have a lot of the campsites to yourself. If you choose to go to the park at this time of year, make sure you have plenty of shade, drinking water and an emergency kit, because there are no facilities except Kalpowar. There’ll be less people around for help too. • If you’d like any current information while you’re visiting Cooktown’s region or more information about a particular place in the neighbourhood to fish, then simply like my Facebook page, Stacky’s Fishing Adventures or send me a message.

Bag a barra before it closes CAPE YORK

Tim O’Reilly wildrivercompany@gmail.com

The warming offshore waters of the Eastern Cape will be supercharging those outer reefs between Cooktown and Cape Melville. Every year, this area plays home to some of the best big marlin fishing on the planet. Granders are the game and any marlin that gets close to this mythical 1000lb mark goes down in the annals of game fishing folklore. Certain boats, certain crews and individual captains seem to account for more than their fair share of large fish each year. There is no substitute for experience and welldrilled crews with an

The shallow margins of Gulf bays fish well on sunset.

Small barra slam poppers with gusto in October. tackle season, so fingers crossed for all concerned that this trend continues over coming months. For those heading up to the

be aware of some coming up late month, including Reef Fin Fish from 28 October

closures in the a Coral Closure until 1

Guide Alan spotted this barra in the sticks, and the fish was more than willing to enquire! November. On the East Coast, barramundi can be caught all month, however the Gulf of Carpentaria closure begins on 7 October, continuing on

until February 2017. With this in mind, many anglers will be targeting barra and the warm weather of October should see them well and truly on the chew right around the Cape. Generally speaking, the fishing will begin to fire up in the lower reaches of most creeks and rivers. The large bays that punctuate the Gulf Coast will also begin fishing well, with fish sneaking right up into the shallow margins on the higher tides. Large schools or mullet, garfish, sardines and prawns will swim along these shallow margins, in and out of the mangrove forests and provide an endless source of fodder for mangrove jack and barra lurking in the indentations. Trying to fish the turn of the top of the tide and the first hour or two of the run-out as the water level drops off the sticks can produce amazing fishing. If you can find a goodsized drain or tiny creek running out into one of these bays, it will be the front portion most likely to hold predators. When the late afternoon light begins to fade and water is emptying out of these drains, try

casting poppers, fizzers and walk-the-dog style lures across the current and look for swirls and ‘boofs’ behind your lure. This can be frustrating fishing when repeated boofs fail to hookup, but when things come tight and a barra leaps high on the strike, it all seems worthwhile. Whatever your style of fishing, October will have plentiful options. Light to variable breezes can be expected and fly anglers

will be licking their lips to tackle the endless flats of the west coast. Permit, golden trevally, giant herring, tarpon and blue salmon will keep these guys interested over coming months. Warm weather and springtime signal great fishing, so get out and amongst it. • For information on remote charter operations for tailored fishing adventures, please email Tim O’Reilly on wildrivercompany @gmail.com

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Ribbon Reefs, Lizard Island and other far-flung spots on the Barrier Reef, plenty of other options exist asides from heavy tackle. Giant GTs on poppers, good numbers of Spanish and shark mackerel, massive barracuda, yellowfin tuna, dogtooth tuna and wahoo are all possibilities on the reef edges and shoals. Anglers will need to

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To fly or not to fly WEIPA

Mark Bargenquast

Saltwater flyfishing is the next step after mastering spin and baitcaster tackle. Many anglers who have fished conventional tackle are looking for the next challenge – fly is where it’s at. Fly anglers often say it’s an easy way to make catching fish harder, which can be true. Without going

Probably the biggest hurdle when learning to flyfish is making a good cast in windy or difficult conditions. Book a casting instructor for a few lessons. It’ll cost a few hundred bucks, but it’s money in the bank when you hit the water. There are several instructors who will travel around and do a few lessons, like Peter Morse who filmed the famous Wildfish series aired on SBS. He does an annual

about the challenge. When flyfishing, the harder the fish is to tempt, the better. It really makes you use your brain, try different patterns and presentations. Sight fishing is cool – sinking deep flies out of sight doesn’t really do it for me. Seeing a big fish on the shallow flats, watching it track in behind your fly and feeling that line come tight is a real buzz. Classic fish like golden trevally, once famous on Peter Reading with a big giant herring, sight fished on a beach.

Martin Donohue with a big blackspot tusky taken on a crab fly. into great detail, here’s a brief outline on the good, bad and ugly.

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the Hervey Bay flats but now commercially wiped out, dart, GTs, queenfish, blackspot tuskfish, threadfin salmon and barra, are all worthy shallow water sight fish targets. Even bream, whiting and flathead, not to mention bass, yellowbelly and Saratoga are great in the fresh. Here’s what to look for in an outfit. Fly rods are rated to a weight, generally starting from 2 ranging through to 16. For average inshore estuary work a 7 to 9 will suffice, unless you want to throw big heavy flies in the wind – then a 10 will be needed. If it’s tuna in the bays you’re after, a 9-11 weight will be needed often to deal with wind and distances, and power if you hook a big longtail. Freshwater natives will need a lighter rod like a 6 or 7, unless impoundment barra or cod are your target. Lines also come in a variety of styles and can be a bit

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confusing. Everything from a full floating line to a full sink line that will bomb down at over 30cm per second, these are more a specialty line that the general newcomer to flyfishing won’t immediately need, unless you wish to fish deep reefs for snapper. There are some great fly rods available on the market today, some cheap and some expensive. Some have reels, but my advice is to buy quality. I use Sage, which have been around for years and have the best warranty in the market. Other brands like Daiwa, Scott, Loomis, Loop and Hardy also have good reels. On the end of the flyline, there’s usually a loop that you can place on a monofilament leader. It starts with a heavier section about a metre long. With a step down to a lighter line class, this can be done several times, but I generally start at 40lb, then step down to 20lb for day-to-day use. A heavier 30cm bite tippet

can be added for barra and toothy critters. Fly selection for different species can be a headache.

eat crusteaceans like permit, blackspot tuskfish, ‘blue bastards’ (painted sweetlip) and trevally.

Sinking deep flies often result in these cracker fish. You’ll need flies for tuna, barra, flathead and whatever else you wish to chase. This can mean plenty of fly boxes in the tackle heap, but it’s okay. I enjoy collecting them and using them as well. Shrimp and crab fly patterns are my favourite. I love chasing the species that

That’s flyfishing in a nutshell. It can be tough, but also the most rewarding form of fishing on the planet. It can take you places. I went to Belize in 2010 to get my giant tarpon, Aitutaki in 2011 for my bonefish and Cape York in 2012 for permit. It’s an amazing trip, so give it a go.

Big queenfish and trevally are always tough opponents.

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Sweetwater off chops in October FRESHWATER

Angus James Instagram: @jimmygusjames

Things are really starting to heat up in the tropical north, and I’m not just talking about the temperature! The fishing is really starting to fire and all of the iconic species are become very active!

had on an afternoon surface bite. Making your surface presentations weedless and working them over and out from the weed edges is a great way to get the adrenaline pumping from this iconic sports fish! The sweetwater fishing is always a great way to get outdoors and explore some beautiful country. Taking a wide range of lures is a

many options these days, it can become very confusing deciding what to throw. It’s all about trying new things and finding out what works. You will soon work out what artificial presentations get the results in certain situations. Mangrove jack become very aggressive as it begins to heat up. The little pups are so much fun to catch on the light gear in the fresh!

natural as possible when targeting these little devils! They are super quick and will snap up most well-presented artificial lures that land in their domain! A tight drag and the appropriate abrasion resistance leader is a must, even for the little fellas! Jungle perch (or JP) are the true gems of the tropical northern sweetwater! If you haven’t targeted this magical species yet, you need to! It’s the country that you end up in that makes searching for this species so special. Most of the time, you feel like you’re in a scene from a postcard! It’s a really great

Jungle perch, as always, will be hanging out in some of the most beautiful crystal clear streams.

Impoundment barramundi are definitely a species worth targeting during October. The impoundment fishing can be absolutely off the chains at this time of year, so do yourself a favour and plan a trip to one of the many impoundments that the tropical north has to offer. Some of the most memorable sessions for mighty barramundi can be

great way to find out what the fish want. If something isn’t working, change it up until you find what works best. Some days, surface lures will be the best option and other days, small soft plastics will be the desired presentation. There are so

They can be caught in super shallow water, and I have even had one race out from its snag on its side about 3m away to destroy my lure. It’s pretty amazing stuff to watch, especially in crystal clear water! Remember to make your offering look as

The flora and fauna of the tropical northern sweetwater is every bit as special as the fishing.

experience and is certainly something you won’t want to do just once! They are a very switched on fish, relying heavily on their senses to know what’s happening outside the water. You have to use all of your hunting skills to land a few. One wrong move and you may shut them down and have to try your luck at the next pool. They are a fantastic looking fish and put up a fun fight with plenty of line peeling action! Truly a must for any angler! Give it a go, you will love it. I wish everyone safe adventures out there in the great outdoors. Catch you next month!

FISHING FILL-ITS

Get ready for first National Gone Fishing Day

Australia will celebrate its first National Gone Fishing Day on 16 October 2016 with

thousands of Australians going fishing and plenty of events promoting recreational fishing being

held across the nation. Recreational fishing is arguably Australia’s biggest leisure sporting

National Gone Fishing Day will be a great way for parents to connect with their children.

activity with an estimated 5 million Australians spending a massive $10 billion each year to take part in it. Mr Allan Hansard, National Co-coordinator of Australia’s first Gone Fishing Day is very excited. “What started as a conversation between two anglers waiting for a bite has now grown into a national celebration of Australia’s largest leisure sporting activity with Federal and State Governments, fishing clubs, tackle stores, and recreational fishers all supporting the day,” he said. “The exciting thing is that it is happening in just two months –just in time to start a summer of healthy outdoor activities in Australia. “Gone Fishing Day will be a truly national event with activities happening from Hobart to Darwin and from Sydney to Perth, including kids fishing days, family fishing days, fishing tournaments of all kinds and fishing club events, in addition to many Australians heading out for a fish with family and friends. “The great thing about

recreational fishing is that it speaks a common language – it unites all of us with the universal icebreaker: Are they biting?’ “It doesn’t matter if you haven’t fished before or you fish every day – Gone Fishing Day will have something for you. “Our message to all Australians is – GET INVOLVED. Take part in what we hope is Australia’s biggest outdoor event - by registering that you will be going fishing on Gone Fishing Day at www. gonefishingday.org.

“Make your rod count!” National Gone Fishing Day would like to thank its major partners: The Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation, (ARFF) Australian Fishing Trade Association (AFTA), Keep Australia Fishing and Clemenger BBDO. Find out more about National Gone Fishing Day and how to get involved at: www.gonefishingday. org or at www.Facebook. c o m / g o n e f i s h i n g d a y. – National Gone Fishing Day OCTOBER 2016

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BRISBANE NORTH CUNNINGHAM MARINE CENTRE 23-25 Snook St Clontarf Phone: (07) 3284 8805 | Fax: (07) 3284 8813 Email: sales@cunninghammarinecentre.com.au Website: www.cunninghammarinecentre.com.au

MERIDIAN MARINA HORIZON SHORES ONSHORE MARINE Cabbage Tree Point Rd,Woongoolba Phone: (07) 5546 2480 | Fax: (07) 5546 1362 Email: onshoremarine@ozemail.com.au Website: www.onshoremarine.com.au

BRISBANE BAYSIDE MIKES MARINE 9 Smith Street Capalaba Phone: (07) 3390 3418 | Fax: (07) 3823 5856 Email: sales@mikesmarine.com.au Website: www.mikesmarine.com.au

BRISBANE NORTH BRISBANE MARINE 306 Duffield Road Clontarf Phone: (07) 3889 3033 | Fax: (07) 3889 5390 Email: info@brismarine.com.au Website: www.brismarine.com.au

BRISBANE SOUTH SPRINGWOOD MARINE 3475 Pacific Hwy Springwood Phone: (07) 3297 8200 | Fax: (07) 3297 8290 Email: sales@springwoodmarine.com.au Website: www.springwoodmarine.com.au

BRISBANE WEST KAREE MARINE 1776 Ipswich Rd Rocklea Phone: (07) 3875 1600 | Fax: (07) 3875 1622 Email: sales@kareemarine.com.au Website: www.kareemarine.com.au

IPSWICH IPSWICH MARINE 45 Huxham St Raceview Phone: (07) 3294 3944 | Fax: (07) 3294 5320 Email: enquiries@ipswichmarine.com.au Website: www.ipswichmarine.com.au

BRISBANE SOUTH COORPAROO MARINE 57 Cavendish Rd Coorparoo Phone: (07) 3397 4141 | Fax: (07) 3397 6339 Email: info@coorparoomarine.com.au Website: www.coorparoomarine.com.au

BRISBANE HOLT MARINE 25 Queens Rd Everton Park Phone: (07) 3353 1928 | Fax: (07) 3353 4548 Email: info@holtmarine.com.au Website: www.holtmarine.com.au

TOOWOOMBA WATERSKIERS WAREHOUSE 91-93 Neil St Toowoomba Phone: (07) 4637 9511 | Fax: (07) 4637 9513 Email: rod@waterskierswarehouse.com.au Website: www.waterskierswarehouse.com.au

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INNISFAIL COASTAL MARINE & OUTDOORS 178 Edith Street Innisfail Phone: (07) 4061 8272 | Fax: (07) 4061 7718 Email: joel@coastalmarine.com.au Website: www.coastalmarine.com.au

CAIRNS AUSSIE MARINE 5 Hannam St, Bungalow Phone: (07) 4033 8800 Email: sales@aussiemarine.com.au Web: www. aussiemarine.com.au

HERVEY BAY BAY CITY MARINE 82 Dayman Street Urangan Hervey Bay Phone: (07) 4128 9944 | Fax: (07) 4125 2350 Email: sales@baycitymarine.com.au Website: www.baycitymarine.com.au

BOWEN REIBEL MARINE 34 Don St Bowen Phone: (07) 4786 2944 Fax: (07) 4786 6606 Email: remarine@bigpond.net.au

MARYBOROUGH FRASER COAST BOATING 120 Richmond Street Phone: (07) 4122 1770 Email: sales@frasercoastboating.com.au Web: www.frasercoastboating.com.au

BUNDABERG ADRIANS MARINE CENTRE 28 Ritchie St Norville Phone: (07) 4153 1819 | Fax: (07) 4154 4808 Email: adriansmarinecentre@bigpond.com Website: www.adriansmarinecentre.com.au

INGHAM J&B MARINE 79 Herbert St, Ingham Phone: (07) 4776 1188 | Fax: (07) 4776 1288 Email: jbmarine@bigpond.com Website: www.jandbmarine.com

ROCKHAMPTON RIFEN BOATS 6 Dooley St, North Rockhampton Phone: (07) 4927 9150 | Fax: (07) 4921 3502 Email: rifen.boats@bigpond.com Website: www.rifenboats.com.au

KARUMBA JONES MARINE 38 Yappar Street, Karumba Phone: (07) 4745 9159 Email: jonglo@bigpond.com Web: www.jonesmarine.com.au

OCTOBER 2016

Trout

Time to trick a trout in a New England stream BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe

Set on a vast tableland with trout waters stretching from around Glen Innes to the north, Tamworth to the south, north east to Dorrigo and then to the southeast Walcha area, the New England trout streams have been blessed with the one thing they need for successful angling: rain. In fact, it’s been a nicely wet and cold winter. Certainly not the sort of conditions you and I

is adjoining a roadside rest area. Such is the case with the Beardy Waters stream near Glen Innes for example. Local sport stores, town information centres and so forth can provide information on local trout waters, because the local infrastructure encourages the sport. For the new fly anglers, it’s sometimes pretty hard to get onto those first fish and learn how to play them. If you want to learn how to hook and play fish, a trip to Dunmore Waters, which is a private fishery west

town, and it’s a treat to order a bite to eat from the Ebor Falls Hotel Motel adjacent the river and enjoy it while watching trout rise. The pub’s a great place to stay too. The famous Ebor Falls are on the southern outskirts of town and are a popular tourist attraction, along with the LP Dutton trout hatchery 14km south of town on the Armidale Road. The hatchery is a must-see for trout anglers and it’s amazing to see just how large both brown and rainbow trout can grow if given the opportunity. Fish

The author in a moment of reflection. “How could that fish have busted me off so easily!?” interspersed with tree shaded runs and riffles are well suited to the fly angler, while the deeper, faster, sections in the gorge

country might well be home away from home for the lure angler. FLY FISHING Fly fishing New

Less is more. Keeping presentations small is the key for New England trout. would enjoy, but perfect for those feisty little trout tucked away in the corners, runs, and undercut banks of streams. FINDING FISH Over the entire New England area, there are numerous streams holding trout, and if visiting the area for the first time the trick is to check out streams at the higher altitudes. Many streams will be on private land and it’s wise to enquire at the nearest property for permission to enter and fish, unless the particular section of water

of the small town of Ben Lomond, will be a great way to start. A Google search for Dunmore Waters reveals all. EBOR’S THE HUB Undoubtedly though, the epicentre of New England trouting is the small town of Ebor due east of Guyra and located roughly halfway between Guyra and Dorrigo. Ebor is around 1500m in altitude and has over a dozen trout waters within an hour’s drive. In fact, there are plenty of trout in the Guy Fawkes River right in

over 3kg are common. Whether you plan to fish with fly or lure, there’s a New England stream that’s just right for the job. Considering Ebor as an example, the rivers and creeks in this area tend to run shallow (around a metre’s depth) on the gentle slopes between valleys, only to tumble big time into gorges where they become a series of pot holes, runs and cascades under roaring falls. The upper areas with their meandering sections within small flood plains

Working a fly against a shaded bank is one of the best ways of taking a trout. 74

OCTOBER 2016

Small water, and a nice little brown trout. Brownies are common in many of the New England streams.

England’s small, enticing waters is strictly light tackle work. A 5wt outfit set up with a floating fly line is a joy to use. A light outfit like this provides lots of fun with the resident rainbows and browns and is perfect for casting size 12 or 14 dry flies such as a Royal Wulff, Humpy, Red Tag, Adams, Elk Hair Caddis, grasshopper or flying ant. The flying ant is a vital fly for times when thunderheads rolling over the escarpment indicate that a storm is on its way, and it’s time to think twice about the graphite rod in your hand! Termites will take to the wing in stormy weather, and those that end up in the drink are irresistible to trout. The other dry flies mentioned are great for all purpose work, and are handy when a hatch of insects is on. Even when the action isn’t so hot though, they’re just as effective for searching out heads of runs, side waters, and those little areas of cover where trout choose to lay up and

Most valleys around Ebor have streams running through them, and this one is typical of the area.

check out the flow for tucker. Some floatant for the fly, Mucilin for the 3m leader and last section of the fly line, and the stage is set for some dry fly work. Don’t go overboard on the leader tippet, as 2 or 3kg is fine for most upcountry work on trout. Wet flies are also quite effective in all New England streams, and if I had to nominate one really effective general purpose wet fly, it would naturally be the Woolly Bugger, size 8 or 10, and in olive, brown or black colours. When wet fly fishing, there’s no need to change to a sinking fly line, as the Woolly can be used quite effectively by removing the floatant Mucilin from the 3m leader by rubbing a bit of mud on

A U S T R A L I A

Margay 2016

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Small meadow stream, a neat little rainbow, it’s what the New England trout scene is all about.

Just another half a metre and it’s in the net! The author’s wife Denise just about to net another New England rainbow. it to help it sink. Understandably, wet flies are worked entirely differently to dry flies. Dries are cast gently upstream, to ensure they float naturally, and are allowed to drift back while slack is carefully gathered. When the fly disappears with a tiny disturbance, a quick lift of the rod will set the hook! With a wet fly on the tippet, the idea is to cast the fly upstream and land it somewhat less gently than the dry fly. This might seem a bit odd, but the idea is to break the stream’s surface tension, sinking the fly rapidly, and perhaps attracting a fish with the little dimple as it lands. Wet fly fishing involves feeling the ‘take’ of the fly rather than seeing it disappear, and can be pretty exciting. In truth, when there’s not much sign of any surface activity, I usually put on an olive Woolly Bugger and prospect the water for the sheer enjoyment of it. I catch fish too! As an extra bit of enjoyment, sub-surface flies such as black beetles, bunny fur leeches and larger brown or black nymphs on

size 10 or 8 hooks can be used in lieu of the Woolly Bugger. Sometimes trout

but it’s smart to remember that these fish eat a lot of small things, so keep

2kg fluorocarbon or braid on a fine, soft-tipped spin rod does the trick nicely. Just be aware that the combination of lures with sticky sharp treble hooks and a soft meshed landing net can be fatal to trout. By the time the lure is removed from the fish and net, the trout may be gasping its last. It’s far wiser to remove the treble and replace it with a single hook of similar size if you intend to catch and release. LAST THINGS New England at this time of year is mighty cold at night, and frosty mornings are to be expected, so make sure to take plenty of warm clothing. Many streams will have bogs around them, so thigh waders or gum boots are handy to keep the feet dry. There are numerous streamside reserves where

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There are plenty of pools under waterfalls within the New England area, and these are perfect for both fly and lure anglers. are fussy little rascals and a change of fly can make a big difference to a day’s fishing. LURE OR PLASTIC There are a lot of trout taken on hardbodied lures, spinners and soft plastics,

offerings down-sized for best success. I have a personal rule that if the plastic or lure is larger than 6cm, it’s getting towards too large. With lures, less is more. Small lures won’t go very far on heavy line, so

camping is fine, usually TSRs, and it’s a lot of fun to camp in that ultra cool climate, providing you’re set up correctly. Lastly, don’t forget the fishing license. Have fun chasing trout!

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A U S T R A L I A

Phone: 0410 173 060 basscataustralia@gmail.com OCTOBER 2016

Action set to improve TOOWOOMBA

Jason Ehrlich fishability1@bigpond.com

Last month did not disappoint. The impoundment bass population fired up as expected in most lakes around Queensland. Somerset was the standout for monster fish and I spent quite a few sessions chasing the elusive bass over 3kg. We managed plenty of 50cm+ fish over these trips with my biggest being a massive 56cm bass, which was as fat as they come. Unfortunately, the digital scale batteries were flat and I couldn’t weigh her, so I let her swim free after a thousand photos. Bass of this calibre will still be around this month. Usually they’re at their fattest, full of roe and tucker, at the beginning of the month. They’ll start to lose condition as the weeks wear on. If you want a record sized fish, now is the time to do it.

Monster bass are available at most lakes but Somerset and Wivenhoe have the reputation for producing the biggest and best numbers. Word is Wivenhoe bass have schooled up, so hopefully there’ll still be a few around this month to get stuck into. Last year the schools there broke up quickly after the fishing pressure. While I devoted every spare minute to chasing monster bass last month, another fish will steal my attention this month. Impoundment barramundi really fire up mid-spring. It’s been many years since I’ve been lucky enough to tangle with these fish at this peak time. I’ve had a trip planned for months and to say I’m excited about banging a few big barra is an understatement. I have a good mate Tim Carter from Halco flying in from Western Australia to join me for a week of sliming up the boat. Most of the northern barra lakes will be turning on the action this month,

SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND CRESSBROOK CLOSEST TOWN: CROWS NEST With a lot of bass fishers setting their sights on the big fish elsewhere and so many other lakes firing up all together, Cressbrook has been out of the spotlight. The bass have had a bit of a rest from the fishing pressure they experienced over winter, and we all know how beneficial this can be. Bass are schooling around some of the major points in the lake’s basin. These fish have fallen for trolled lures as well as tail-spinners and blades over the past month. The bigger fish have been

elusive with most of the action coming from fish that are either undersized or below 40cm. The big girls are bound to be schooled up somewhere together and if you can locate them in the fishing area of the lake, expect great catch rates. Last year at this time, the fish schooled on the first point, which extends out to the north of the campground. There’s no guarantee they’ll be there again, but it would be my first port of call. Sound around this area, the point out in front of the shallow boat ramp, Deer Island and Bass Bay. Other places worth closer investigation

DAM LEVELS

        

Atkinson Awoonga Bjelke-Petersen Boondooma Borumba Burdekin Falls Callide Cania Clarendon Cooby Coolmunda

JUL AUG SEP 5 6 6 87 87 85 41 40 39 48 46 44 90 91 90 91 100 97 81 80 79 88 86 85 17 16 15 61 62 62 30 29 75

       

Copeton Cressbrook Dyer/Bill Gunn Eungella Fairbairn Glenlyon Hinze Julius Kinchant Koombooloomba Leslie Macdonald

14 17

Toowoomba

BRISBANE

IMPOUNDMENT DAM

out the signage to ensure you stay out of trouble and abide by the rules. The gate hours for the boat ramps and day use area will be extended this month – 6am to 8pm. SOMERSET CLOSEST TOWNS: ESK, KILCOY Insane action has taken place at Somerset over the past month. We managed to crack a pattern, which has produced fish on every outing. The results have varied from 13-50 fish per day with some of them absolute rippers. Slow winding the Jets 18g tailspinners has been the best approach for casters. You

18 22 47 97 78 76 9 8 8 101 100 100 44 50 49 26 26 46 100 99 99 90 88 87 102 99 98 63 48 60 12 12 26 95 90 88

Gold Coast

24 1 Tinaroo Falls Dam 2 Peter Faust Dam 3 Burdekin Falls Dam 4 Eungella Dam 5 Teemburra Dam 6 Kinchant Dam 7 Cania Dam 8 Lake Monduran 9 Isis Balancing Storage 10 Wuruma Dam 11 Lenthalls Dam 12 Boondooma Dam 13 Bjelke-Petersen Dam 14 Lake MacDonald 15 Gordonbrook Dam 16 Borumba Dam 17 Somerset Dam 18 Wivenhoe Dam 19 Pindari Dam 20 Copeton Dam 21 Moogerah Dam 22 Maroon Dam 23 Leslie Dam 24 Connolly Dam 25 Coolmunda Dam 26 Clarrie Hall Dam (NSW) 27 Hinze Dam 28 Lake Cressbrook 29 Callide Dam 30 Lake Awoonga 31 Lake Samsonvale 32 Fairbairn Dam 33 Koombooloomba Dam 34 Cooby Dam

23 25

Cairns 1

Townsville 2

3 4

Proserpine 6 Mackay

Rockhampton

Emerald

29 7

Highlighted dams are covered in this issue

Gladstone

30 8

Bundaberg 9

Roma

can score even more fish by trolling them. We trolled at around 2km/h to keep the lures close to the bottom and in the schooling bass. When a bite was detected, we immediately focused on going for multiple hook-ups, as it was a sign the lures are travelling through active fish. Once a bass was hooked, we were able to cast up several more in the area before things went quiet. We tried the same approach with various lures, but the tail-spinners shone above all else and even certain colours stood out. The maggot and pink eye colour Jets were the

BRISBANE

best, although every other colour also caught fish. Not all the action has taken place on tailspinners. When the fish are more cooperative, they can be caught on blade baits, soft plastics and spoons. Spoon fishing has taken off again and some of the better quality fish are falling for them. My biggest this season ate a gold 20g Halco Twisty jigged across the bottom. I see a lot of anglers jigging their spoons and it produces, but when the fish aren’t in the mood, just like tail-spinners, slow winding spoons can outperform jigging them.

Dam.............................% Full          

Maroon 98 98 100 Monduran/Fred Haigh 94 94 94 Moogerah 92 88 93 North Pine/Samsonvale 68 66 65 Peter Faust/Proserpine 63 63 62 Pindari 45 47 93 Somerset 80 80 80 Teemburra 92 95 96 Tinaroo 53 51 47 Toonumbar 100 99 100 Wivenhoe 82 81 80 Wuruma 92 92 9

For fortnightly updates on Sunwater dams visit www.sunwater.com.au This symbol indicates that a Stocked Impoundment Permit is required to fish these dams. All figures are % readings Current as of 21/09/16

(All levels correct at time of going to press. Dam levels can change at any time, so please check with local authorities to ensure safe boating and fishing.) 76

OCTOBER 2016

Maryborough

w w w. b a r g a i n b o a t b i t s. c o m . a u

Dam.............................% Full 

Weipa

brought to you by

Dam.............................% Full

Monduran and even Awoonga will be good options for those wanting a taste of barra action further south. We don’t hear as much about Callide and Lenthalls, but they’re also closer options for southerners chasing barra. In the southeast corner and west of the range, golden perch will fire up with the warming water. A bit of water ran into the western lakes so read on to see how this will influence the fishing. Murray cod are protected in the closed season, but you can still target them in stocked lakes. Cod fishing should be excellent, but the water that’s run in may have some influence on catch rates. I’ve only touched on a portion of what the freshwater has to offer. Every fish including silver perch, sooty grunter, saratoga and catfish will be more active. There isn’t a better time to get out on the water and have a go. Until next month, buckled rods from The Colonel! are the points and banks up around the Eagles Nest rock wall and the toilet point at the opposite end of the dam. For all your fishing supplies and the latest reports on Cressbrook and the surrounding dams, call in to see the specialist tackle stores in Toowoomba. Tackle World Toowoomba in Ruthven Street on the north side and Fish’n’Bits in Alderly Street closer to the south side have a great range of lures and fishing gear. Support these tackle stores, because they’ll be able to direct you to where the fish are biting and offer invaluable advice. Remember, there’s a speed limit of 8 knots and a restricted area at Cressbrook Dam. Check

Gympie

Certain spoons are better for this style of fishing as they have a swimming action, not a spinning action. The Nories Wasaby spoon is ideal and, this month, Hot Bite Fishing is releasing a spoon which is suited to jigging, slow rolling and even trolling. Ideal for catching schooling fish, the lure is aptly named the

Some schools handle fishing pressure better than others, so let their actions dictate your next move. If there aren’t too many boats on the lake, you can usually rotate spots and rest the fish to catch more. Golden perch have been whacking lures on the bass spots. We nailed quite a few on tail spinners last month so they are really starting to fire. To target them, troll deep

Blake Ehrlich knows how to light up the bass in the late afternoon sun. The early mornings and late afternoons will see better bite windows with most freshwater species this month. Gang Banger. Keep an eye out for it. The beauty of Somerset this year has been the number of bass schools. When an area is fishing tough, it’s a matter of moving on to try another area. There have been schools opposite Kirkleigh on the flats to the southeast, out from Queen Street, opposite the Eagles Nest, Pelican Point, Red Rock and The Spit. The fish were moving around a bit last month, so it was a case of sounding them up.

divers around the drop offs in the main basin or run medium divers up in the timber above Kirkleigh. The rock walls around the Spit are also worth a troll, but were still quiet last month. October is when they usually start to produce best. If a big, fat golden is in your sights, have a little troll. A great concept is about to be reintroduced to Somerset this month. The Golden Lure National Freshwater Trolling Championship is set to take place on October 22-23. More information is available from

DARLING DOWNS GRANITE BELT REGION COOBY CLOSET TOWNS: HIGHFIELDS, TOOWOOMBA Positive signs of an increase in fish started to occur last month. Both lure and baitfishers were experiencing more action and we can only expect this to get better until it peaks around the end of the year. Cooby always seems to be a slower lake to fire than some of the others. Baitfishers have had success on both live shrimp and saltwater yabbies. Try positioning the boat outside the weed edges in around 6m of water and fish the baits directly below the boat. Unlike fishing from the shore where you need to cast the bait out to reach the fish, in a boat you can simply drop it straight to the bottom and keep it vertically below the rod tip. The advantage of this presentation is an almost tight line, which will help

detect the most subtle of bites. When using soft baits like yabbies and shrimps, you can’t afford to miss the smallest of enquiries. Lurefishers may start to pick up more fish trolling around the edges of the weed. Lures like the Jackall TN60 or medium diving hardbodies that reach 3-5m will be ideal. Take note of the action the lure produces in the rod tip as this will be your guide to when the lures stop working and are fouled with weed. If you’re lucky enough to run a quality sounder, schools of goldens should be revealed in anything over 6m of water. These tighter concentrations of fish can be a lot of fun on lures. The Jackall TN60 and small blades are great lures for hopping through them. The most popular coloured dark night ZX40 blade has been hard to get a hold of at times and a few anglers

Somerset Tackle and Smak Lures. Spots are limited, so get in as early as possible. It should be a great family event. For the latest reports, check out Somerset Fishing Tackle online and on Facebook. The store is in Kilcoy, but they mail order fishing gear all over the place. For some of the most competitive prices around, visit the website at www.somersetfishing.com.au. MOOGERAH CLOSEST TOWNS: BOONAH, ARATULA Moogerah has been a little slower to fire than some of the other lakes. Early last month, baitfishers were whacking quite a few bass and the occasional golden perch inside the timber. Live shrimp were the gun bait with very little attention paid to other offerings. Lurefishers managed to find some good fish as well, but these were located in the dam’s basin across the deeper flats. Look for these schooling fish out from the Palms just before the timber, and across The Spit, which extends towards the dam wall from the closest boat ramp. Use these areas as a guide to start your search and explore any nearby areas of similar depth. The bass are taking soft plastics, blade baits, tailspinners and Jackall Mask Vibes. Try to mix it up with these lures and alter the presentation to see what the fish prefer. The action should only get better as we move deeper into spring. MAROON CLOSET TOWNS: BOONAH, BEAUDESERT The bass have been a little tougher at Maroon but if you work you can rack up a good tally for the day. Reaction lures around the weed edges are doing quite well already. Blade baits hopped down the weed face following the have had success on a hopped tail-spinner. Cooby Dam’s proximity to Highfields and Toowoomba makes it a very popular fishery. If you’re looking for somewhere close to home to drop the boat or kayak in, Cooby is definitely worth a visit. The dam hours are now 6am to 8pm, perfect to fish into the dark for a late arvo cod. Just remember, no outboard motors are allowed to be used on the dam. The concrete boat ramp is on a shallow angle when the dam is full and can be slippery in places, but a big electric powered boat can still be launched with care. Outboard motors can be left on the boat but must not be used. Tackle, lures and saltwater yabbies can be purchased from Highfields Bait and Tackle. Highfields Bait and Tackle has changed location to the Coles shopping centre, just off the highway on the north side of Highfields. Call in and see Doug and

Every now and then a beast of a bass comes along. This 56cm fork length bass ate a hopped 20g Halco Twisty on the flats at Kirkleigh, Somerset Dam. contour into deeper water have accounted for a lot of bites. Spinnerbaits around the weed will also be ideal. Try to fish the deeper holes in the weed or where the edges of the weed formations drop into deep water. With spinnerbaits, use downsized offerings rather than big bulky baits. Lures around 3/8-1/2oz are ideal. Beetle spin rigged soft plastics are a favourite for fishing the weed here. They have a small profile and the vibration of the blade lets you know if they’re fouled with any weed. A few hard rips will usually free them up. For the early birds who are able to hit the dam before sunup, surface luring will definitely be worth a try. The calmer mornings should see an increase in surface activity this month. The bites will keep coming until the sun hits the water so you can prolong the action by looking for shaded areas, once the sun is belting onto the more productive spots. Late afternoons can produce similar action. Small topwater lures around 5-8cm in length are the perfect size to attract the bites. Stickbaits, poppers and even old school fizzers will get the job done.

Double hook-ups are not uncommon when you find the active bass this month. This Somerset pair fell to the ever-popular Jets 18g tail-spinners.

To page 78

OCTOBER 2016

From page 77

check out the great range of fishing gear, kayaks and accessories on display. LESLIE CLOSEST TOWN: WARWICK There was a bit of rain around early last month, which dumped some water into the lake. The water is still clear enough for lures, making Leslie a good option for those looking for golden perch or even Murray cod action. Baitfishing with shrimp and saltwater yabbies has been a good way to produce a mixed bag. Golden perch, silver perch and eel-tailed catfish will make up the majority of the catch, but you also stand a chance of hooking a cod. Lurefishers will have fun trolling lures like Jackall TN60s and medium diving hardbodies. The action was steady last month, but those who persisted saw some quality fish. Golden perch may wake up a little more this month making the trolling an even better option. Trolling is also a great way to hook a big Murray cod. Remember, these fish are protected during the closed season in the rivers, but you can still catch them in Leslie. The cod can breed in the lake so it’s a good idea to return them to

Golden perch numbers are on the rise as the water warms this month. You can tell they want to eat a lure when they swallow it whole. Down the hatch is a Jets tail-spinner. the water at this time of year. Jigging small blades and lipless crankbaits will be a good way to entice the golden perch around any structure near the old creek bed drop off. The new Kamikaze 80S stickbait is also a good jigging option. These lures can be fished like a vibe, but have a different action. The lure darts up off the bottom in a swimming motion when

2 Dams

1de stination H

South Burnett

STAY

NIGHTS AND

SAVE CATCH of the month

BJELKE-PETERSEN

Dave caught this Bass whilst pre fishing for ABT Grand final on a tailspinner

BOONDOOMA DAM

Kris caught this Bass during the ABT round at Boondooma

www.lakeboondooma.com.au www.yallakoolpark.com.au 78

OCTOBER 2016

proving deadly on all fish species. Now things are warming up, goldens will have their chance to have a

SUNSHINE COAST REGION BORUMBA CLOSEST TOWN: IMBIL The fishing at Borumba has been quite good so far this spring. Plenty of bass have schooled in the main basin of the lake. You can still expect to pull some from the shallow edges with spinnerbaits, plastics and lipless crankbaits, but most of the action will be out wider in deep water. Schools will easily be found on the sounder. There are plenty of points that extend well out into the dam, so run the boat over these while sounding. Soft plastics have been one of the best lures to get bites, but fish are also falling to tail-spinners and blades. Borumba can turn on some

sensational bass fishing at this time of year, so if you’re in the area be sure to check it out. Baitfishing with live shrimp on the points in the basin will also produce ridiculous numbers of bass. If you’re doing it for a feed, remember the bag limit and take care to release the unwanted fish in good health. Saratoga numbers picked up last month. These fish mouth brood their young around this time of year so can be tough to entice, but there must still be plenty that aren’t carrying fingerlings based on the results. Toga like structure in the form of weed, lilies and snags. They spend a lot of their time feeding shallow, so look for overhanging trees, which could harbour bugs and

other creatures likely to fall in the water. Toga will take surface lures and are also fond of soft plastics, especially if you add a bit of flash like a beetle spin frame. MACDONALD CLOSEST TOWN: NOOSA The bass numbers picked up in the lower part of the dam. The deeper water tends to attract good numbers of fish at this spawning time of the year. Look around the bay at the Botanical Gardens and keep an eye on the sounder while cruising outside the weed edges anywhere in the lower half of the dam. Schooling fish will be quick to snatch a tail-spinner or blade. Closer to the weed, bass have been taking blades and spinnerbaits. If you get on the water early, expect some

want to play the game. Find the clearer water and see if things have settled down enough for the fish to be in a biting mood. Cast spinnerbaits to any structure for a surefire way to entice the Murray cod. Goldens will take smaller spinnerbaits, hardbodies and lipless crankbaits. The Coolmunda Caravan Park is only 1km away from the lake. The park is just off the Cunningham Highway, but far enough away from the noise of trucks to get a good night’s sleep. It offers camping sites, cabins, caravan facilities, tennis courts, a swimming pool, BBQ shelter and a camp kitchen. The park now has an extra two new wheelchair friendly cabins to add to their older ones. Camping is also available near the boat ramp with toilets and hot showers to make your stay more comfortable. To take advantage of this and the great fishing opportunities in the lake and the river below, give the park a call on 0746 524 171. surface action. The Cultive Zipin’ Ziggy and 60mm Halco Roosta Popper are perfect for this dam. I like to walk the Zipin’ Ziggy fast over the tops of weed and pause it every metre or two. The Roosta Popper comes into play in the smaller pockets in the weed. Use short pops to keep the lure in these pockets longer. Give the bass a chance to come screaming out to strike it. Make sure you head in to see the guys at Davo’s Tackle World at the Homemaker Centre on Mary Street, Noosaville. The store has a huge range of gear suited to the fresh and salt. They can point you in the right direction and set you up with the proven tackle to catch some of the Sunshine Coast’s freshwater species.

· Boondooma Dam · Bjelke-Petersen Dam ·

The BEST place in QLD to catch Australian Bass and Yellowbelly

jigged and then remains horizontal and swims back to the bottom as it falls. It’s a very enticing action and

crack at them. Along with getting a fishing report, stock up on all your gear at Warwick Outdoor and Sports at 115 Palmerin Street, Warwick. For a small store, it carries a great range at a very competitive price. Warwick is only a ten minute drive from the dam and you can pick up any supplies you might need. COOLMUNDA CLOSEST TOWN: INGLEWOOD After rising in level last month, the dam has been very quiet. The water is discoloured and will take a couple of months to clear to the point that lurefishing will again be successful. Even baitfishing was very slow last month with few bites on proven baits like shrimp and yabbies. Lurefishers will find the water at the top of the creeks clearer than the floodwater, which pushed well into the dam basin. After the initial flood last month, the slower running water cleared up to a point where you could lure fish it, but the fish just didn’t

WIDE BAY AND BURNETT REGION BOONDOOMA CLOSEST TOWNS: PROSTON, KINGAROY It’s a great time of year to visit Boondooma and take advantage of the bass and golden perch action. Schooling fish will be found throughout the dam’s second basin. These fish tend to move around, so look out from the banks in 7-10m of water. Popular haunts are Pelican Point, the Barbers Pole, the Junction and the western bank opposite the Junction. These fish will be suckers for tail-spinners, blades and soft plastics. If they’re having a bad day and don’t want to play the game, perch on top of them and try to entice a bite by jigging an ice jig. In the timbered arms,

spinnerbaits cast to the edges and through the trees will produce both golden perch and bass. Cover plenty of water and look for concentrations of fish. Freshwater fish get a bit frisky in spring and they tend to bunch up into tighter schools. Baitfishers will find fish all over the lake when using live shrimp. The timber is always a popular spot, but a big run for the smaller boats. If you’re looking for somewhere closer to home for a morning or arvo session, try the rocky points in about 7m of water. Boondooma is a great place to camp right near the water, sit by the fire and enjoy the view. You could also stay in more style and comfort by booking a cabin

overlooking the dam. The kiosk at the main office does hot food and other basic items including tackle. For campsites, cabins and bunkhouse rooms, call Corey and Niki on 0741 689 694. BJELKE CLOSEST TOWNS: MURGON, GOOMERI The luring action was quite slow over the winter months but then somebody flicked a switch that turned the fish on. Bass in particular went nuts last month. The fish moved up onto the edges of the lake and could be caught all over the dam. Some of the better results were coming from between the campground and the timbered area on the medium tapering banks. Soft plastics and blade baits accounted for plenty of fish and we can expect the action to continue this month. As things heat up, the fish may retreat from the shallows throughout the middle of the

day, but they won’t be far away. Try motoring along the edges under electric power in 4-6m of water and flick lure right up into the shallows. Paddle-tail 3” plastics or grubs rigged on 1/4oz jigheads will be a good option. When the fish move out deeper, another good method will be to hop a 1/4oz blade down the contour of the bank. There’s a bit of slimy weed around the shallows, so keep the lure off the bottom until you work out how far this comes out. Once clear of it, you can drop the lure to the bottom and fish it back from there. Lure trollers will also get into the action this month. As the fish move further out from the shallows and into 3-5m of water, trolling spinnerbaits, blades or even soft plastics with an electric motor will score good numbers. Work out how far back to run the To page 79

From page 78

lure to keep it just off the bottom in your chosen depth. If the lure weighs around a 1/4oz and the boat is travelling at 2.5km/h, you should be able to fish the lure 30m behind the boat and get it down about 4m as a rough guide. For help catching Bjelke and Boondooma fish, call into Bass to Barra. The store stocks an awesome range of gear suited to chasing our freshwater fish. They boys have all the knowledge to guide you on how to use it. You’ll find the store at 119 Youngman Street, Kingaroy. Matthew Mott also runs fishing charters on the dams and you can reach him through the store for bookings and

enquiries on 0741 627 555. The Yallakool kiosk is all set up with a great range of tackle if you don’t have the right lure or lose one. Be sure to call in and check it out. Give them a call for accommodation and camping bookings on 0741 684 746. CANIA CLOSEST TOWNS: MONTO, MUNDUBBERA Cania Dam has continued to fire with ridiculous amounts of bass caught. Mixed in has been a handful of silver perch, golden perch and saratoga, but when the bass are so active, the other fish are having a tough time beating them to the lures. With multiple stories of 50+ fish sessions last month, Cania has made a sensational

comeback over the last few years. Some of the bass are stonkers too with several measuring around 50cm, and plenty of others at 40cm+. Reaction lures seem to be getting the job done best. Tail-spinners and blades are ideal to tempt the bites. These small profile lures have plenty of flash and are the perfect size for schooling bass, which spend a lot of time feeding on bony bream. Jigging spoons are a good option on this lake and not a lot of the fish have seen them. Try the Nories Wasaby spoon or the new Hot Bite Fishing 20g Gang Banger. A lot of the action will be taking place in the lower half of the lake. The deeper water areas are a good

only the hard-core anglers stay out. With this in mind, don’t be afraid to hit the water early in the morning and fish as the sun comes up. At the first hint of light, fish will often give away their location. If you’re planning on fishing Kinchant, Teemburra or Eungella, be sure to call in and see Bruce and Ash

at Nashy Compleat Angler on Harbour Road, North Mackay. Ash works in the store and as a fishing guide on the lakes. Some firsthand information as to where they’re biting always goes a long way. There’s a great range of tackle suited to the dams as well as the other fishing options Mackay area is blessed with. You can call the store for more information or to put gear on hold, on 0749 572 272.

MACKAY REGION KINCHANT/ TEEMBURRA CLOSEST TOWNS: MACKAY, MIRANI The barra lakes west of Mackay are due to fire. Last month, Teemburra was turning on some good fishing late in the afternoon. Fishing the points with the boat positioned in around 5m of water and tossing plastics in towards the edges was the key to getting bites. Fishing throughout the day was tougher. Around the full moon, you can also expect the fish to turn on the action during the night. Kinchant dam received more fishing pressure than Teemburra, but the fish were tougher. You can only expect this action to step up another notch this month with warming water temperatures. The boat activity can make landing fish harder, so be smart in your approach. A lot of boats hit the water right on dark to fish well into the night. Often the enthusiasm dies around midnight and

Trent Mauloni whacked plenty of Cania bass last month. He found most of his fish in the lower half of the dam in deeper water.

GREAT FOR A DAY EVEN BETTER W HEN YO U STAY

• Great fishing, bass, yellowbelly, cod, saratoga, garfish… • Windsurfing, boating, beach volleyball, playground, BBQ’s. • Level tent sites, showers, toilets, hot and cold water. Only 50 kms from Toowoomba For more information on camping or fees: Call Toowoomba Regional Council on 131 872 during office hours or visit www.toowoombaRC.qld.gov.au

THE FUTURE IS HERE

2 F the pr

• Waterproof Construction This Kinchant barra slid out of the weed to inhale a weedless rigged PowerBait Rib Shad and then played up while the author posed.

WHITSUNDAY REGION PROSERPINE CLOSEST TOWNS: PROSERPINE, AIRLIE BEACH I’m excited because this will be the first time I’ve ever fished Lake Proserpine in October. The big barra get more active around this time every year. Casting lures at the back end of the dam accounts for plenty of fish and there will also be a few taken, trolling in the basin out from the dam wall. Look for points in the timber that are close to deeper water. If you can mix in some weed and timber across these points, you’ll increase your chances even more. It pays to watch the sounder while moving around in the sticks, as there are plenty of submerged humps which will become

place to start your search. Sounding in 10-15m should reveal some schooling fish. In the deeper parts, the fish will often suspend, so try fishing the lure at the depth they’re at. Better numbers of fish will usually hold around the points or any submerged flats. Trolling lures out from the edges and in open water will also be very effective. Lure selection will depend on the depth the fish are holding. If they’re deep, try deep diving hardbodies or slow trolling tail-spinners with the electric. When shallow, slow trolling lipless crankbaits can be very effective. You’ll find all the tackle you need in Mundubbera at Country2Coast Bait and Tackle, at Shop 1, 34 Strathdee Street. The store is currently open Thursday to Saturday but will extend to Tuesday to Saturday this month. The number is on the store so if you’re desperate for supplies outside these hours, they’re willing to help out. Country2Coast also hires out kayaks and can put you on to some great spots in the Boyne and Burnett rivers. The fishing between Eidsvold and Gayndah has been sensational for golden perch and bass. The rivers are almost too clear for fishing so you won’t have a problem hooking a few quality fish on lures.

islands and new points as the dam drops. These submerged shallows can be feeding stations for barra. They move up from the deeper creeks and onto the platforms to chase baitfish. Casting soft plastics across these shallower areas can be very effective this month. If it fails and the fish are showing on the sounder, mix it up by hopping soft vibes and working sinking or suspending crankbaits. Surface luring early and late in the day can produce explosive strikes. Lures like the Cultiva Tango Dancer and Rapala Skitterpop are perfect for the open water. Soft plastic frogs rigged in a weedless fashion can be used in pockets of weedy areas. In the deeper creeks that run through the trees,

barra will be staying around treetops, waiting to move off on their next feeding excursion. Crank 3-5m diving hardbodies, like the Halco Scorpion, down into the tree and float it back up slowly, before twitching it down again to pull these fish up. A few casts in the same spot might be necessary to wake the barra and get the strike. This is fun fishing – hooked to a rampaging metre long fish surrounded by trees – it’s heart in mouth stuff. Use 50lb braid and at least 60lb leader when trying to extract these big girls. For all your fishing supplies or a guided trip on the lake, call Lindsay or Dane at Barra World, formerly Proserpine Bait and Tackle, on 0749 454 641. The store is right on the highway in Proserpine and specializes in barra fishing tackle.

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Superb Suzuki Vitara diesel SUV BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

Introduced mid last year, the stylish five seat Suzuki Vitara has been a standout SUV right from its release. This mid-sized

by a 1.6L petrol engine, which was adequate, but hardly earth shattering. It did the job, revved a bit when pressed hard off the mark, but was all round okay for commuting and highway runs. I towed our Trek Kudu trailer with one, easily.

followed shortly after by a very willing and smooth 1.6L direct injection turbo diesel, which upgrades the Vitara to a new class – potential buyers will struggle to find reasons not to sign the dotted line. As the new diesel is the star of the show, we’ll let

Quiet and smooth, drivers will have trouble saying no. wagon with character, charm, and a host of useful driver-friendly accessories. The initial offerings were powered

Suzuki like to keep moving ahead, so this year a 1.4L petrol turbo engine was installed under the shapely bonnet,

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the output figures tell the story. The 88kW of power and 320Nm of torque sees this model peaking at 100Nm more than the 1.4 turbo petrol, and over double the torque output of the 1.6 petrol engine. THE BIG PICTURE The increased power and torque do a lot more than simply shift the Vitara along at an increased rate. The diesel is the flagship of the line up. There’s notably improved NVH levels (Noise, Vibration and Harshness), an easy transition of power that sees the car punching well above its weight. It has comfort and sheer driveability that’s hard to define, but easy to detect from the driver’s seat. Designated the RT-X, the oil burner does more than just offer fuel economy – a specified 4.9L/100km. As the flagship, the interior

is luxury, with standard equipment such as leather and suede seat trim, single zone air conditioning, keyless entry and ignition, dusk-sensing LED headlights, LED daylight running lights, rain-sensing wipers, cruise control, a big reversing camera, power folding door mirrors, rear privacy glass and 17” alloy wheels. Infotainment is not overlooked. There’s a 7” colour touch screen, panoramic sun roof, radio and USB port stereo, sat nav, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring, with a six speaker audio system, delivering the sound. In truth, there’s a fair degree of hard plastic about the interior of the Hungarian manufactured Vitara. While not quite up to the standard of some competitors, it looks like it’s built to last and that’s no bad thing. Remember, Suzuki offer alternate colours around the dash area with removable panels to be replaced by colour schemed inserts. Customise the dash, why not? Safety features include seven air bags, ABS with electronic brake distribution and hill descent control. With a five star

Shapely lines and a high standard of finish even extend to the rear of the Vitara wagon.

While there’s a fair amount of hard plastic around the dash and door areas of the Vitara, it looks like it’s built to last.

Daylight running lights are all the rage – naturally Suzuki’s Vitara has them as well.

ANCAP rating, the Vitara is a family wagon with attitude. TO DRIVE IT IS TO LOVE IT I enjoyed my time behind the wheel of the Vitara diesel. With a punchy turbo diesel engine, superbly linked to a six-speed dual clutch auto unit with all-wheel drive, the AllGrip, there was power to spare. Overtaking slowpokes on the highway, this powerful diesel wagon whips around the plodders. Speeds rapidly approach

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The Vitara’s boot size is 375L, but there’s always the option of dropping a rear seat for a little extra room. 80

OCTOBER 2016

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Flowing well-sculpted lines and a standout appearance, backed by a smooth powerful engine, are traits of the new Suzuki Vitara diesel. speed camera fodder in a few seconds. With a braked trailer rating of 1200kg, 400kg unbraked, there’s no issue towing a lot of small craft with this wagon. Around the ramp, this AWD system is an asset, but it’s around the open road that the diesel really shines. Easily able to keep up with any traffic, overtake with alacrity, it delivers sensational economy at the end of the day. A long day of driving saw my fuel economy figures of 5.2L/100km come very close to Suzuki’s 4.9L/100km claim to fame. At 110km/h saw a miserly sub-2000rpm on the tacho, hence the excellent fuel consumption. It’s not so much the frugality of the engine, but more likely the ultra quietness at speed or easy acceleration that will really impress drivers. Ride quality was again very good with Macpherson struts up front and torsion beams at the rear, to iron out the bumps. A consolemounted dial switches from standard all wheel drive to high speed black top, snow, sand and mud. The concept is simple – left to itself, the wagon remains in two-wheel drive until wheel slip is detected, and then all four wheels get into action. Lock mode applies to snow and

mud mode and will rapidly shift torque from any wheel losing grip to others that are detected to be more capable at that time. Although a very capable wagon, today’s Vitara is not a beach buggy or bush

big brother Grand Vitara. SUMMING UP As mentioned, it’s going to be a tough choice for compact SUV buyers. While the likes of the Mazda CX3, Mitsubishi ASX and Skoda Yeti have earned

a modern-as-tomorrow shape, is going to be making inroads into sales, no question about it. The RT-X Vitara is punchy and a fine example of just how well this small car manufacturer is doing against the really

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The Vitara has a pair of very comfortable front seats. These in the RT-X are suede with leather trim. basher. Forest trails, dirt roads and muddy sections of these are its forte. Better leave the really hard stuff to

a lot of kudos, the diesel Vitara, with its two-tone colour styling, impressive outfitting and features, plus

big boys. The price of this diesel variant is around the mid $30,000 mark, plus on road costs.

$30,000 TRITON 18 PRO Location: QLD

$38,000 There’s a reason for such good fuel economy – less than 2000rpm at over 100km/h.

The interior design of this car is all comfort, and is equipped with wicked sound system technology.

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Animal rights versus fishing ‘rites’ SUNTAG

Stefan Sawynok

It seems that the greyhound ban in NSW has emboldened animal rights activists to call for a ban on fishing in a much louder voice. In the past, this wouldn’t make the news, but the RSPCA have updated their policy on fishing and are now opposed to ‘bluewater’ angling for species such as tuna and marlin as well as the use of live bait. They have certainly come down on the side of fish feeling pain, quoting their policy on angling. “RSPCA Australia considers that the available scientific evidence demonstrates that fish are sentient animals capable of experiencing pain and suffering. Anglers should therefore treat fish humanely and avoid practices that have the potential to cause pain, injury or suffering during capture, handling, killing or release” (RSPCA, 2016). The ‘fish feel pain’ argument isn’t going away anytime soon. There is a dedicated website on the topic (http://fishpain.com) with what I feel is a fair bit of cherry picked information. I also noted that the Wikipedia page on fish pain comes down heavily on the side that fish feel pain. While I think it’s putting a target on your head to discuss these issues, there has been quite a bit of work done on the topic. In reviewing what is a mountain of literature I have tried to move past the moral arguments on either side and get my head around what is a complex topic. One of the problems that I have discovered in this field is that like social science, political biases can influence the interpretation of the research. That happens on both sides of the debate. A 2012 paper addressed this issue in some detail. This paper is quite complex, but an article in Science Daily in 2013 did a pretty good job of explaining it in simpler terms. HOW HUMANS FEEL PAIN “To be able to understand the researchers’ criticism you first have to comprehend how pain perception works for humans. Injuries stimulate what is known as nociceptors. These receptors send electrical signals through nerve-lines and the spinal cord to the cerebral cortex (neocortex). With full awareness, this is where they are processed into a sensation of pain” (Science Daily, 2013). The activation of nociceptors does not necessarily mean conscious 82

OCTOBER 2016

pain. If that weren’t the case doctors would have a much harder job. If you have ever had a tooth removed or a mole cut out or worse, you are probably grateful for that fact you can switch off the conscious awareness of pain. HOW DO FISH COMPARE TO HUMANS? Many of the more extreme animal rights groups like to make posters of children or animals with fish hooks in their mouth. Ignoring the fact there are some people that like that sort of thing, it is important to have some level of understanding of how fish differ from humans. Again, here is a good summary from the science daily article. “Unlike humans fish do not possess a neocortex, which is the first indicator of doubt regarding the pain awareness of fish. Furthermore, certain nerve fibers in mammals (known as c-nociceptors) have been shown to be involved in the sensation of intense experiences of pain. All primitive cartilaginous fish subject to the study, such as sharks and rays, show a complete lack of these fibres and all bony fish – which includes all common types of fish such as carp and trout – very rarely have them. In this respect, the physiological prerequisites for a conscious experience of pain are hardly developed in fish. However, bony fish certainly possess simple nociceptors and they do of course show reactions to injuries and other interventions. But it is not known whether this is perceived as pain” (Science Daily, 2013). FISH AND PAIN The Wikipedia entry cites the work of Professor Gary Varner, an American Philosopher who focuses on Bioethics. In a table that summarizes his views he builds on the presence of the basic pain equipment to behavior that demonstrates a pain response. He asserts that ‘Analgesics affect responses’ and ‘Response to damaging stimuli similar to humans.’ The 2012 paper contradicts both of these assertions. In the case of Analgesics, the article notes that Morphine, which is effective in humans proved either ineffective or only effective in doses that would prove fatal to small mammals. On the subject of behavior, again there was a repudiation of the methods used. The current overviewstudy raises the complaint that a great majority of all published studies evaluate a fish’s reaction to a seemingly painful impulse – such as rubbing the injured body part against an object or the discontinuation of the feed intake – as an indication of pain. However, this methodology does not prove verifiably whether

The RSPCA is now opposed to ‘bluewater’ fishing for species such as tuna and marlin, where the fight time is prolonged. the reaction was due to a conscious sensation of pain or an unconscious impulse perception by means of nociception, or a combination of the two. Basically, it is very difficult to deduct underlying emotional states based on behavioral responses. Moreover, fish often show only minor or no reactions at all to interventions, which would be extremely painful to us and to other mammals. The conscious recognition of pain is where most of the contention exists. Those concerned with animal rights take one interpretation of behavior; other scientists take a different view. Brian Key from the University of Queensland in his 2016 article “Why fish do not feel pain” (http:// animalstudiesrepository.org/ animsent/vol1/iss3/1/) cites a series of evidence that fish do not feel pain and asserts the burden is on those that believe otherwise to prove that they do. In response, others such as Jonathan Balcombe, the Director for Animal Sentience at the Humane Society Institute for Science and Policy in Washington DC, argue that a precautionary principle should apply. In his view, fish should be treated as sentient and able to feel pain, fishing practices should be changed to reflect that and as such it’s up to those that believe otherwise to prove their case in order to keep the status quo. Which all just means there is a lot more back and forth to come. SHOULD WE JUST IGNORE THIS DEBATE? I don’t think ignoring this debate is a good idea, but reacting to it isn’t much help either. The fact that the Wikipedia entry is mostly pro the fish feeling pain side is

a case in point of how the general public, who may have no experience of fish, can be influenced. As Greyhounds NSW have discovered, we may be only an outrage away from potential consequences. Personally, I can’t say that I am convinced one way or the other. There is substantial evidence that fish don’t experience pain in the way we do. That doesn’t mean fish aren’t affected. All my life, experience in fish handling says that fish do suffer stress and can be injured. Reducing fish mortality from poor handling was the focus of the Released Fish Survival project some years back. The Australian Museum takes the following position, and I agree with it. “In short, if you need to touch a fish, you should remember that the fish may (or may not) experience pain the way you do, but it undoubtedly does suffer from stress. Professional ichthyologists follow stringent guidelines to reduce stress when handling fishes.” I will make a side note that I believe that banning fish photos, for example, to get fish back in the water faster is not helpful. On the other hand, further discussion on the best methodology of taking fish photos should not be off the table. We should all be willing to look at new and better methods. CATCH AND RELEASE AND TOURNAMENTS Catch and release fishers take note. You are going to be among the first targets in this debate, as are tournaments. Both groups need to consider ways to ensure fish are well treated. Both would do well to look for how community value adds to their activity

by assisting with habitat rehabilitation or collecting data to support efforts aimed at the improvement of the fishery. Fortunately, fishing is highly regarded by the community, and there is no serious mood for change. Just remember, though, Germany has banned catch and release, and other nations are watching. WHERE TO FROM HERE? I share the objectives of animal rights activists who wish to see fish treated with care and with as little stress as possible, but I don’t think that turning fishers into the enemy helps. Then again, there will always be those that see humans as evil killing machines no matter what I say. I plan to explore this topic more directly with the researchers involved but more likely, in an online video forum where fishers can get the evidence from the horse’s mouth. There are scientists on both sides of the fence here and overseas; it will be fascinating to hear what they have to say. In the meantime, thank god there is fishing to chill out. GROWTH IN PUBLIC INTEREST IN MARINE CITIZEN SCIENCE Changing gears a little, researcher papers don’t get a lot of coverage in the media in general, so I thought it would be a good chance to give exposure to a recent report along with some ‘gentle’ rebuttal. An article by V. Martin, L. Christidis and G. Pecl reports the following findings: “Potential volunteers are passionate about the marine environment. Volunteers are generous with their time for projects they support. Divers stood out as the most enthusiastic group to contribute. Volunteers are likely to be educated, particularly in science. In general people are more interested in data collection and sharing results than ‘getting involved in the science’. Fishers are more interested in having a say on the direction of science where as divers are more interested in analyzing the results.” Scientists have been wrestling with the whole ‘citizen science’ scene for a while, and I think that astronomers, in particular, have their mix about right. The space sector engages more often with the community and business in a much broader array of models. Marine science in my experience prefers more control over the process. Before I dive into that topic though here is the summary of the article in the author’s own words. “Social studies in citizen science typically focus on existing project participants. We present results from an

online survey of 1,145 marine users to identify broader public interest in marine citizen science. Although we found considerable community interest, the most enthusiastic tended to have a higher education in science, were under 45 years old, primarily enjoyed SCUBA diving, and had contributed to scientific research in the past. The type of research organization involved in a project played a role in people’s willingness to share information. The discourse of public participation in scientific research encourages public involvement in all aspects of the scientific process; however, we found that the respondents were primarily interested in datacollection opportunities. Feedback and past experiences in research were important considerations for gaining and retaining the volunteers. Our results indicate considerable potential for growth in volunteer recruitment, which can contribute constructively to scientific and public knowledge of the marine environment” (V. Martin, L. Christidis and G. Pecl, 2016). ELECTION PRINCIPLE My primary issue with this paper are the kinds of problems presented by all polls. What someone says in a survey is a reflection of what they feel at the time, there is nothing on the line. As every politician will tell you, an election is the only poll that matters because there is a real choice to make. It may be true that educated divers are more likely to be involved in citizen science. I suspect though that there are more fishers than divers. I also suspect there are only certain projects that would be suitable for divers. Would they be interested in a project on Australian bass in impoundments? This for me is the weakness of the paper. It doesn’t sufficiently link the projects available with the interest. Nor does it sufficiently tease out what turns interest into action. BEING ONE DIMENSIONAL The Marine Citizen Science community is so one dimensional. There is one option on offer: a researcher, most likely government funded, running a project using volunteer labor. Volunteers generally will have shared values with the researcher, some skill and a desire to know more on the subject. My issue is that is where the story ends. You get one flavor – vanilla. Here are two different models that don’t just offer an alternative they change the game. To be clear, I am not advocating throwing out the standard model, but I do think that spicing it up and including more public facing project

models would improve Marine Science overall. CROWDFUNDING The future of science funding will be a mix of government funded, private funded and public funded projects. The latter category is the most interesting to me as publicly funded projects are usually ‘crowdfunded’, that is the researcher has to put up a project on the internet and the project is funded entirely from donations. It’s a slightly different form of citizen science where the citizen sponsors science they want to see done. Depending on the project there are usually rewards and project updates. I have sponsored more than one project, and there is a tremendous sense of satisfaction that comes with seeing them succeed and knowing you played a part. Crowdfunding as a model is more likely to produce projects that serve the public rather than science. The Seabin Project (http:// www.seabinproject.com/) is a good example. The Seabin project was started by a couple of Australian Surfers to help keep marinas and closed waters clean. It raised over 250k US via Indegogo (https:// www.indiegogo.com/projects/ cleaning-the-oceans-onemarina-at-a-time#/). While is more an engineering project

The advantage of crowdsourcing is numbers. More data, more participants. The disadvantage is in quality. There is usually a higher level of error due to less control over the process or skills of the person providing data. than a ‘science’ project but it does fall under the category of marine science. It’s a project that benefits the community including the fishing community. If a pair of surfers could make it happen, then our highly skilled and brilliant scientists can do even better. The challenge is to solve the odd problem that affects ordinary people on things that matter to them. Science overall would benefit from the greater public support. The good news is some newer marine science projects seeking to crowdfund. It will be interesting to see how this area progresses.

CROWDSOURCING In the standard citizen science model, you have a known group of volunteers with a known method. Crowdsourcing, on the other hand, is a way of allowing anyone to contribute to a project. The advantage of crowdsourcing is numbers, more data, more participants. The disadvantage is in quality. There is usually a higher level of error due to less control over the process or skills of the person providing data. Crowdsourcing is an area where industry has stepped up. Insight Genesis, for example, is one of the world’s best

crowdsourcing platforms of any type. It’s simple enough in practice, fishers record their scan logs and upload them to a central server. These get combined, and the resulting community maps are made available to everyone. Why does Insight Genesis work? There are two keys; it delivers a benefit to its end users, and they reward their best mappers. The Australian crowdsourcing service Redmap was very well funded in comparison to most ‘crowdsourcing’ startups yet when compared to commercial projects it’s been a financial

failure. It just hasn’t delivered the volumes of data that commercial services do. The main reason I would suggest comes down to benefit. There has been a low level of reward for participants or the community in terms of output. While we all have a level of altruism if any service wants a slice of our time, we need something to it. That is just modern reality. That is not to say it serves no purpose or is not useful. Crowdsourcing can be very beneficial to science, but I would suggest that finding ways to partner with businesses that crowdsource data would be a much better model than science going it alone. Businesses are always looking for new ways to engage their clients. Clients are looking for new benefits. Scientists need data or eyeballs on the water. Bring it all together and everyone wins! Public Interest in Marine Citizen Science: Is there potential for Growth? – A good start. Marine citizen science will evolve with the inclusion of a more diverse set of voices and skill sets in their operation. It’s too much to expect that change will come from within. I think marine citizen science would benefit from involving more technology, business and social media skills in their teams for example.

I also think marine citizen science would benefit a lot from broadening the definition of how to work with the public. This paper is a step in the right direction in that it highlights that there are people willing to get involved. I can only hope this is the beginning of a conversation that expands the ways fishers can be involved, not another paper that will be forgotten in a year’s time. LIST OF REFERENCES “J D Rose, R Arlinghaus, S J Cooke, B K Diggles, W Sawynok, E D Stevens, C D L Wynne. Can fish really feel pain?Fish and Fisheries, 2012; DOI:10.1111/ faf.12010”. Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V. (FVB). “Do fish feel pain? Not as humans do, study suggests.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 8 August 2013. “VICTORIA Y. MARTIN, LESLIE CHRISTIDIS, AND GRETTA T. PECL Public Interest in Marine Citizen Science: Is there potential for Growth? BioScience August 2016/Vol. 66 No. 8” explores attitudes to Citizen Science and the scope to recruit additional volunteers. “VICTORIA Y. MARTIN, LESLIE CHRISTIDIS, AND GRETTA T. PECL Public Interest in Marine Citizen Science: Is there potential for Growth? BioScience August 2016 / Vol. 66 No. 8”

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What’s New FISHING

KRAKEN HALF NUDE EGI

The unique Kraken Half Nude Egi from River2Sea has a cloth back and a fluidfilled belly, giving it the action of a hard jig with the feel of a cloth jig. The fluid that fills the Kraken Half Nude Egi has a couple of benefits. Firstly, it acts as a casting weight, similar to a ball bearing, so the lure casts true. The fluid also contributes to the lure’s action, splashing from side to side and adding a lifelike, erratic factor to the jig’s action as you work it. This jig fitted with ultra-sharp, Japanese barbs to maximise catch rates, and the bulb balanced lead acts like the keel of a yacht, ensuring the lure glides at perfect angles. The Half Nude Egi has two tow points so you can vary the action of the jig, and it’s available in a variety of colours. And as you’d expect from River2Sea, the price is very good value for the quality of the jig. Price: SRP $19.95 www.river2sea.com.au

AMPHIBIAN WATCH

Much like its namesake, the Australianmade 200m Amphibian is geared around diversity. Just as happy in the water as it is on dry land, the Amphibian from Adina gives you the freedom required to live a life on the move. This watch boasts a robust, cold stamped, nickel-free, stainless steel case. This houses a fully repairable Swiss movement, and the case is also equipped with a stylish sapphire crystal face for unparalleled scratch resistance. All in all, it’s tough exterior that’s purpose built to handle the kind of bumps and knocks that you get out on the water or in the great outdoors. The Amphibian can handle all the elements. Whether you’re in the shower, out fishing, at work or having a swim, the Amphibian will feel right at home. It employs a screw crown system for supreme water and dust protection, and the comfort moulded P.U. strap features internal ribbing for breathability and incorporates a classic diver’s buckle. Adina designs and assembles every single watch in Australia, using the best watchmaking technologies from all around the world. For more information on this and other men’s and women’s models in the range, log onto the Adina website. Price: SRP $279 (NK167 S2FS) www.adinawatches.com.au

BALISTA TRANCE

For years Balista has been giving anglers the edge in lowlight conditions and dirty water, and their latest release is the 50mm Trance. The Trance features Balista’s miniaturised LED system. This technology has been proven time and again in larger lures for Murray cod and barra, and now it’s game on for smaller species such as bass, bream and trout. You can use the LED all the time, although you’ll notice a spike in bites in dirty water, lowlight conditions and overcast days. The Trance dives to 6ft, and has a super slow float. Crank it down next to structure or weed beds, and allow it to sit on the spot before beginning to float, while its tail flashes blood red. Every feature of this lure has been considered carefully and tested heavily. It has ultra-sharp BKK trebles and excellent castability. It comes in a range of proven colours, most of which have UV in a pattern on the side, the base coat or under the nose. Price: SRP $24.95 www.balista.com.au

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

DAIWA AIRD X

Over the past few years Daiwa’s brightly colored Aird reels have built an enviable reputation, not only on value but incredible performance. Now Daiwa has introduced the all-new Aird X – Daiwa’s most feature-packed reel in this price range. Built on a solid, corrosion-resistant graphite frame and side plate, Aird X uses many of Daiwa’s innovations like Digigear, for powerful smooth cranking; ABS, for supreme casting; Airbail, for perfect line control; Air Rotor, for increased strength and weight reduction; and Twistbuster, to eliminate line twist. All up, the Aird X delivers class-leading performance without breaking the bank balance, and is an ideal reel for beginners to pros. There are four models: the 2000SH (5.6 gear ratio, 225g, 2kg drag, 2.7kg/125m, PE 1/200m); 2500SH (5.6, 255g, 4kg, 3.6kg/155m, PE 1.5/200m); 3000SH (5.6, 290g, 4.5kg/185m, PE 1.2/350m), 4000SH (5.7, 380g, 5.4kg/240m, PE 2.5/300m). www.daiwafishing.com.au

AUSTACKLE GIZMO HD

Big predatory fish are suckers for the flash and vibration of Colorado blades, and Austackle’s Gizmo HD Big Fish Edition takes full advantage of this. It’s built on a solid Mustad hook, perfect for snapper, kingfish, cobia, mulloway, big flathead, Murray cod and barra. You can retrieve the Gizmo HD in a number of ways. You can slow roll it, crawl it along the bottom, hop it, drop it through schooled fish, burn it through structure and more. Use it as you would a jig or bait; look for fish on the sounder, then drop the Gizmo and let it sink through the bait school/fish. Lift and drop the lure and get hit! The Gizmo HD’s sturdy wire arms are adjustable, so you can bend and tune as required. You can also add a soft plastic trailer to boost the lure’s size and vibration, and to slow the rate of fall. Austackle recommends a Paddleworm 100 or Whiptail Grub 85. The Gizmo Big Fish weighs 1oz and comes in six colours, including UV patterns for maximum attraction. Price: SRP $22 www.austackle.com

ATOMIC ARROWZ RODS

Designed in Australia for Australian species, Atomic Arrowz rods integrate advanced designs with the finest materials, including Fuji components and performance-focused, fullgraphite blanks. This series has been designed for both bait and lure angling, and features three ranges: estuary, offshore and barra. The Estuary Series has four spin models. From the finesse special 70SUL designed for ultra light bait and lure fishing, to the heaviest model in the series, the 70ML, this is a series that delivers refinement, precision, and lightness. The Offshore Series delivers superior muscle and control. These four 7’0” spin rods feature ultra-refined fore and rear neoprene grips, and are great value for money. In the Barra series there’s one spin and two baitcaster rods, all with neoprene fore and cork rear grips. You get the finesse to feel the most subtle of bites, and blank sensitivity and control to twitch, rip and pop baits. Price: approx. SRP $150-$200 www.frogleysoffshore.com.au

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What’s New FISHING

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ICERAYS UV SLEEVES

XP BUTTERFLY ICE JIG

Icerays UV Sleeves are Australia’s best selling, fully tested and certified sun sleeves. They allow you to wear your favourite T-shirt or polo without having to slather on sunscreen, worry about having to reapply it, or miss areas of your skin. Icerays Sleeves are also a cool and comfortable alternative to a hot, longsleeved shirt. These sleeves are easy to slip on and off, and as the breeze blows, the Tactel/Spandex fabric cools the skin. They’re certified 50+, are hand washable, and there are seven colours to choose from. And for the ultimate in protection, you can team them up with Icerays Hand Covers. As well as being great out on the water, Icerays UV Sleeves are handy for other activities. You can slip them on before a road trip, use them while you’re gardening, or wear them while playing sport like cricket, tennis or golf (they’re the sun protection product of choice for golf professional Anne Rollo). Price: SRP $29.95 per pair www.icerays.com.au

The XP Bait Butterfly Ice Jig, with built-in ‘butterfly wings’, is like no ice jig you’ve ever seen before. As it sinks its wings open up, slowing the glide and making the jig flutter through the water column. This keeps the jig in the strike zone for longer and in the fish’s face. When the jig is raised the wings fold closed. Another feature is the TFLF (Temporary Fishing Line Fixation) System – a small clip on the lure’s tail that you can thread your line through. It causes the jig to rapidly drop nosefirst, to get you into the strike zone quicker. Once the jig has reached the desired depth, give a quick flick of the rod tip to release your line from the clip. XP Bait Butterfly Jigs come in 50mm and 60mm sizes and a range of colours, with holographic foil that flashes when the wings open. These lures are sure to be a huge hit with anglers chasing bass, redfin and yellowbelly. Price: SRP $18.99 www.jurofishing.com

12 SCAN THE QR CODE!

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

GULP JIGGING SHRIMP

Combine the proven fish-catching profile of a Gulp Shrimp and add the enticing tail action of a long, curl tail and you get the New Berkley Gulp Jigging Shrimp. Designed in Australia, the Gulp Jigging Shrimp is essentially a cross between two very popular lures – the Gulp Shrimp and the Nemesis. The Jigging Shrimp delivers more movement on the drop than the original Gulp Shrimp, and it can also be wound on the surface in the ‘pink grub’ style. Whether it’s on the drop or on the hop, the Jigging Shrimp tail swims at the slowest of speeds, delivering a continuous lifelike action. This new lure is available in 3” and 5” sizes and 12 colours, and appeals to a wide range of species. Basically, any species that will eat a prawn will eat this lure. And like all Gulp soft baits, it’s packed full of potent scent that fish can’t resist. Price: SRP $13.95 www.berkley-fishing.com.au

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NOMAD DTX MINNOW

The DTX Minnow is a revolution in trolling minnows, featuring Nomad Autotune, Hydrospeed and Gorilla Through Wire advanced design technology. The DTX (Dogtooth Extreme) entices and stands up to the toughest fish in the ocean. The unique design creates a distressed baitfish swimming action, and the Nomad Designed Autotune tow point and bib system means this lure just keeps swimming deep and straight every time, no matter how many bites it has had. The concealed Hydrospeed belly eyelet allows faster trolling speeds than conventional tow points, so the DTX Minnow just keeps swimming straight and true. The 165mm Model can be trolled at up to 9 knots, and dives to 10m+ when trolled at 6-8 knots. The 200mm version can be trolled at up to 11 knots and dives to 12m+ when trolled at 6-8 knots. The DTX minnow is rigged with Nomad’s purpose-designed, inline single hooks. It’s ideal for tuna, wahoo, mackerel, mahimahi and more. Price: SRP $34.95-$39.95 www.nomaddesigntackle.com

GEECRACK GILLING

A new hardbody swimbait from Japanese lure maker Geecrack is set to explode on the Australian freshwater gamefishing market. This new model is called the Gilling, and the attention to detail and precise construction of this Japanese-made lure make it a step above its competitors on the Australian market. Surprisingly though, the Gilling won’t cost you an arm and a leg when you add it to your freshwater fishing arsenal. Built in three pieces to mimic fluid and realistic movement, the Gilling is suitable for a range of large freshwater predators including bass and Murray cod. This floating, rattling swimbait comes in a range of sizes and 43 colour combinations. www.dogtoothdistribution.com.au

MOZZIE-FREE SHIRTS

The new BF Maxflow Repel apparel from Bigfish contains an insect-resistant agent that repels 95% of mosquitoes and other biting insects. The range has all the features of Bigfish’s current fabric (soft, cool, lightweight, durable and UPF50) but now when heading out for a day on the water you’ll repel mosquitoes and other bities at the same time! Bigfish tested the shirts on the flood plains of the Adelaide River in the Northern Territory, where marsh mosquitoes are so thick they actually bite you through traditional shirts. The team conducted late afternoon field tests where plenty of mosquitoes landed and bit through traditional fabric. However, when they landed on the Repel-infused fabric, they quickly took off again. The technology behind it is a micro-emulsion treatment that ensures almost perfect transfer from the aqueous phase of the repellent to bond to fabric. It retains 80% efficacy even after 50-70 washes, which is an incredible amount of days on the water! Price: SRP $99.95 www.bigfishgear.com

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What’s New FISHING

ZMAN EZ SHRIMPZ

The 3.5” ZMan EZ ShrimpZ has been designed with a segmented body for a realistic action and glide. It also has 3D eyes, along with thin legs and antennae for added realism and lifelike movement. The rigged version comes in a pack of two and is rigged on weighted Mustad UltraPoint hooks. The weight design locks the ShrimpZ in place and ensures a balanced, realistic glide on the sink. The EZ ShrimpZ weighs about 1/4oz, with the segmented weight system giving you the option to clip off sections of the weight with a pair of cutters. Unrigged EZ ShrimpZ come in a pack of four and act as replacement bodies for the rigged version, while also being dynamite rigged on your favourite jighead. The TTs HeadlockZ and DemonZ jigheads are ideal for locking on the super-soft and flexible EZ ShrimpZ, with a 3/0 hook size a good starting point. In snaggy areas, TTs recommends the ChinlockZ, ChinlockZ SWS and SnakelockZ. Price: SRP $17 www.ttlures.com.au

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

EGI OH Q AUSSIE EDITION

Yamashita have worked in collaboration with Australian anglers to release a special limited edition series of colours in the Egi Oh Q Live series. With five glow body versions and one red tape model, these jigs are ideal for use in low light conditions or at night. The three natural baitfish imitations – the King George whiting, glow prawn and black prawn – are ideal in clear water or when the squid are hard to catch. The three zebra glow colours are ideal in dirty water or when the squid are more aggressive. The Aussie Edition Egi Oh Q Live jigs are available now in sizes 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5. Keep an eye out for them at your favourite tackle store, or look up Yamashita Australia on Facebook for the latest news and photos. Price: from SRP $20 www.ejtodd.com.au

BARRA X PRO

Named for its smooth styling, Swift is Spotters’ take on mixing a retro classic with 21st Century sports function. The Swift has been built for action, and its lens shape is a classic, born in the 50s and worn by sports celebrities and movie stars. To boost visual performance, Spotters has incorporated its signature lens curve to block glare and give you full UV protection. The Swift’s frame material technology is strong and durable yet flexible and light – something sunglass creators of the 50s could only have dreamed about. Spotters has moulded a slim temple to keep your peripheral vision clear, completing the look with a hook end on the arms to keep your sunnies secure no matter how active you get. Price: SRP $289.50 www.spotters.com.au

STORM ARASHI VIBE

Storm have raised the bar in the vibe market, with the new Arashi Vibe. Sporting a very handy moving tow point, where the tow point can slide depending on the lure’s movement, this vibe is incredibly versatile. Being so versatile, they are perfect for both vertical jigging and casting applications. They give off fantastic vibrations on the lift or steady wind, but even when allowed to sink, the body rocks enticingly. These lures are always putting out distressed baitfish signals, whether it is being imparted by the angler or not. Rotated hook hangers allow for better hook exposure, so you can turn short takes into hook ups. The Storm Arashi Vibe comes in eight colours to suit different fishing scenarios. At 7cm long and 16g in weight, these great vibes can be thrown at (or dropped onto) many different native and nonnative species. Price: SRP approx. $20-$25 www.rapala.com.au

14 15

Wilson Fishing has taken the popular Barra X and given it a serious upgrade, creating the Barra X Pro series. This series has been built with extra strength in mind, as the target species include mulloway, barra and Murray cod. The Barra X Pro also has a magnetic cast system that gives the lure incredible casting distance and accuracy as well as unique underwater sonics when retrieved. This floating lure is available in 100mm, 120mm and 180mm lengths. It’s designed with a square bib that creates a unique swimming action that screams ‘eat me!’ to fish, and it’s fitted with terminal tackle that will never let you down. Retrieved with a slow wind or a jerking, twitchy retrieve, the Barra X Pro in all sizes dives between 0.8m and 1.2m, putting it squarely into the frame for snag bashing Murray cod and barra or taking advantage of floodwaters at river mouths or headlands for mulloway. It comes in 10 specifically developed colours that include some amazing natural patterns, holographic patterns and attractor patterns. www.wilsonfishing.com

SPOTTERS SWIFT

SHIMANO MAIKURO RODS

Maikuro, meaning micro in Japanese, is the new series of nano graphite technology rods from Shimano. They have a sleek, modern design with a matt black finish, white, silver and black trims, and stylish butt configurations incorporating the new Sea Guide carbon hooded reel seat. The butt design is a combination of cork and extra hard EVA, which was selected for the best transmission of bites and sensitivity in the angler’s hand. Thanks to the highly responsive graphite blanks, this series is best suited to finesse lure-casting situations. There are rods are perfect for targeting light freshwater and estuary, and of course barramundi. Perfect for baitcasting fishos. There is currently one model (MK621BCM) which is 1.8m, 1-piece and rated to 3-6kg. The Maikuro range also includes spin, beach, jigging and offshore models, and more info is available at the Shimano website. Price: approx. SRP $120 www.shimanofish.com.au

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au

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What’s New FISHING TESTED: Award DTD is a company in Croatia that produces high quality squid jigs and accessories, which are distributed worldwide. Croatia sits on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea, and boasts some of the most beautiful shallow reefs in the world, so it’s not surprising that they’re producing such good gear. We at Fishing Monthly were lucky enough to have some sent to us for testing. We knew DTD had won awards in Europe, so we were keen to try them. UPON INSPECTION Opening the box to see what they’d sent us, we realised DTD have a massive range, with many realistic colour schemes and sizes. The attention to detail on these jigs was impressive, and obviously based on science. I was intrigued by the range of bibbed minnows with squid prongs at the back – something I’d never even heard of. DTD have even gone as far as to print little fish parasites onto the some of the jigs. Strong cloth, steady tow points and razor sharp prongs come standard with each jig, with some even having rattles. I’ve never used a squid jig with rattles, and was very keen to see if this made any difference to the action of the jig, and of course, the appeal to the squid. From what I could read on the packet, I noticed that most of the jigs had a slower sink rate than most other jigs, which suited me to a T. I like to fish very shallow for my squid, and a slower sink rate meant more time for the jig to sit in the squids’ face! Up here in Queensland, the main quarry is tiger squid, or northern calamari. I was charged with the task of finding squid for the

winning squid jigs hit Aussie shores squid community by storm in recent years, the jig really came to life! The side-to-side motion of the jig looked so good! And when worked, it came right up in the water column for anything in the area to see and home in on. That was enough mucking around, it was time to start fishing! For some reason, the action was quite slow in my usual area this year, but I was confident we’d catch squid. We got a few aggressive swipes and bites from flathead and trevally, which was a good sign. If it’s good enough for wily flathead or trevally, then a silly old squid probably won’t ask questions!

Strong cloth, steady tow points and razor sharp prongs come standard with each DTD jig. team to catch, so it was time to get out of the office and hunt some tentacles! IN THE FIELD We started by looking at the action of the jigs in the water. I was drawn to the orange Retro Oita model in size 3.0, because it reminded me a bit of the jigs I’d normally use. The difference was that this DTD jig had a rattle, and a tantalisingly slow sink rate. With a steady wind, the jig cruised upright, much like a prawn or baitfish would when not being chased. However, upon employing the popular, fast whip-like action that’s taken the

TESTED: Platypus

The author was given a spool of 6lb P8 to try, and it was ideal for casting small hardbody lures. Braided line, or ‘super lines’ as many people call them, changed the fishing landscape many years ago. The sensitivity and feel these lines provided, changed the face of lure fishing in particular. At the time they weren’t cheap, but as manufacturing processes improved, so did the quality and price. Braid is now accessible to many more anglers. Platypus (Australian Monofilament) has been there from the start, producing braid from their Brisbane head office like Bionic Braid (one of the first 8 carrier braids), Super Braid and now Platinum, Platinum Plus and P8 braid. P8 Braid is their latest 8-carrier braid, and when a couple of spools landed SCAN THE QR CODE!

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

Big, angry QLD squid loved the DTD jigs almost as much as we did!

The slow sink rate of the jigs will suit land-based anglers very well. Finally, I spotted a big loner cruising along a rock wall, and I suggested to Fishing Monthly’s Michael ‘Foxy’ Fox to pop one near it. Almost immediately after the first few jerks, the chunky animal wrapped its tentacles around the jig and Foxy’s rod buckled over. Rattles work for squid! Since that first encounter, we’ve enjoyed using these innovative Croatian squid jigs. Unfortunately, we only started using them at the tail end of the Queensland squid season, but we’ll be well equipped for next season. I can’t wait to test out some of those other weird and wonderful jigs from DTD, especially the bibbed ones! BANG FOR BUCK In the world of squid jigs, you definitely get what you pay for. Spending that little bit of extra money is recommended if you want to catch more squid, and have your jigs last longer. DTD’s range of jigs present the perfect balance between price and quality, and have proven their worth on Aussie squid. There’s a place in tackle boxes all around Australia for these innovative imports, and I’m keen to see what DTD will do next! – Bob Thornton

P8 braid – 8-star quality

on my desk six months ago for testing, it immediately found its way onto a couple of my spin and baitcast outfits. FIRST IMPRESSIONS P8 braid is seriously thin (I was given 6lb and 20lb to test) and smooth to touch. However, although thinness and smoothness are desirable they can also create issues with knot tying. Not all of us can tie knots likes Geoff Wilson, and I wondered whether I’d be able to continue tying the braid-toleader knots I had always used. Losing fish due to knot failure is never a good feeling. I liked the orange colouring. Most of my fishing is done using lures, and the ability to see the line, as well as feel the bite, is important. PUTTING IT TO THE TEST The first test for any line is when you spool it onto a reel. Will it go on evenly, will it spool tightly enough and can you get enough onto your reel to meet your fishing requirements? These are the things to consider, and the P8 delivered on all fronts. Its fine diameter ensures line capacity isn’t an issue. Additionally, because the line is so supple and round in shape, it goes onto the spool snuggly and evenly when you apply firm pressure while spooling. This trait means you’re unlikely to have it bite or over-bind on the spool. This is critical on a baitcast reel. My first opportunity to use the line was on a trip bass fishing to some gorge country west of Brisbane. An ideal testing ground, but also scary as any line failure would be a disaster; the area is a hike-in and hike-out location, with minimum tackle on board. I needn’t have worried though, as the

P8 ticked all the boxes. I didn’t need to learn any new knots, and the knot integrity was excellent. Castability, due to the fine diameter of the line, was better than I had hoped. This was pretty important as much of my time was spent casting surface lures and small hardbodies, and any added distance was appreciated. This also translated into

A quality bass caught on a surface lure, caught using the Platypus P8 line for the first time.

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the baitcast outfit I used, and when the inevitable bird’s nest happened I was able to sort it with minimal fuss. The sensitivity of the line is excellent, as you would expect from an 8-carrier braid, and I enjoyed the feel through the guides. It is a very soft feel compared other braids I have used, and less harsh running through the guides. In successive trips I have continued to be impressed with the P8 braid. The wear and tear of fishing has not affected the performance of the line, and there is no sign of it losing its strength or integrity. Yes, like most braids the colour of the used portion of the line has faded, but that doesn’t affect its integrity. Platypus P8 braid is available in eight breaking strains from 6lb through to 80lb in 150 yard and 300 yard spools. Pricing starts from just under $50 for a 150 yard spool, and remember when you buy Platypus you are supporting an Australian company. – Peter Jung

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au

Getting coated in rain BRISBANE

The Sheik of the Creek

There’s only one thing worse than having water drip feeding down your Birdsville Track and that’s having wintery ice-cold water dripping down your Birdsville Track. If like me, you fish out of an open boat, then you need to have options for when Huey sends her down. Of course, the easiest option is to move away from open boats into a cuddy cabin or such. That’s a real backward step in my opinion. It’s so invigorating, being out on an open boat in Queensland. There’s nothing like the rush of fresh air in your face, and the occasional squirt of saltwater from a large wave over the bow. Mind you, there’s nothing like a cubic metre of water coming over the bow from a broadside hit, or the sting of a fullblooded squall on your face, as you pissbolt for the boat ramp. That’s a big chance when I’m driving. Go flat out or go home,

is my motto. For that reason, I like to make sure I have good wet weather gear, a coat that doesn’t leak through the seams with a comfortable hood to stop the rain dripping down your neck. That coat has to be long enough to stop rain dripping down south too. I went to a great deal of trouble to get the right coat after being stuck offshore with Skipper one weekend in CQ. After that 10 hour episode, I decided to invest in a long pair of waterproof pants and a long waterproof coat – having waterproof trousers doesn’t mean a thing when you’re wearing a short coat. It was a longer coat than I wanted, so I had to save up for it. I had to save up for it, because I’d already lost two coats at Turkey Beach. I’d like to say I lost two coats at Turkey Beach because they were stolen, but in all likelihood, I lost them when they got blown out of the boat. And I’d say the new one got stolen too, but I think I put it down somewhere and forgot about it... That’s the last I saw of

the coat I saved for. So I ended up with the cheap and nasty coat that I can’t seem to lose. Bloody thing won’t get blown out of the boat no matter how I try. It was there last week when I got stuck in an out-of-season thunderstorm. At the time, I was anchored up beside a half cabin, annoyed to see two blokes continue talking in the safety of their protected little cockpit, munching on bikkies. I hunched over in my centre console, shivering as a couple of inches of cold September rain dropped on my head. And into my track. It would be nice to say that everything turned out right, and I don’t need to save up again for another, longer coat, because the cheaper shorter one did the job and protected my behind. That would be a lie. To be honest, I can’t blame the coat and I have to blame myself. I left my waterproof pants on the roof of the car at home, and they got lost somewhere between there and the ramp. It’s not easy being me.

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OCTOBER 2016

THE R ECR E ATIONAL ANGLER’S LINK QU E E NSL AN D J U N IOR ANG LE RS FISH I NG COM PETITION • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Has your High School got what it takes to win this year’s Queensland Junior Anglers Fishing Competition at Moreton island on 8 October? This year’s competition has it all, and you can have a ball fishing with school mates on the beautiful Moreton Island at the heavily discounted rate of only $25. Entry includes return barge travel on the luxury Micat. You can enter as a group of up to five team members (you can have more than one team) or simply enter on your own. We encourage school sports facilitators to get behind this event, form a team and have a great day helping the kids try their luck to land the big one. There’ll be heaps of prizes and giveaways, and trophies and prizes awarded for South Queensland Champion

Under 18, Champion Under 16, Champion Under 14, Champion Team, Heaviest Overall Fish, and Best Whiting Catch. Trophies are also presented for 2nd and 3rd place for each division! For further information, contact John or Judy Lynne directly or have your school sporting facilitator contact them to receive more helpful information. Phone 3882 4518, or via mobile on 0409056437, or simply email judylynne@ sunfishqld.com.au

Brendan Dunstan from Wynnum State High School with some great flatty catches.

www.sunfishqld.com.au

Callum Devantier from Iona College with a 2.5kg flathead.

Email: judylynne@sunfishqld.com.au

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR 2016 OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

Oct 1-2

Saratoga Spectacular Bedford Weir

Steven Schuh 0429 165 756

Oct 8

Queensland Junior Anglers Fishing Competition Moreton Island

judylynne@sunfish.com.au 3822 4518

Oct 8-9

BASS Electric #6 Borumba Dam

Steve Noble 0409 239 065

Oct 8-9

Rnd 14 Hobie Kayak BREAM series Bribie Island

www.hobiefishing.com.au

Oct 22-23

BASS Electric Convention Maroon Dam

www.abt.org.au

Oct 28-30

Hobie Kayak BREAM Aus Championship Queensland

www.hobiefishing.com.au

Oct 28-30

The Sovereign Resort Annual Barra Fishing Comp Cooktown

0740 430 500

Oct 28-30

Lake Moondarra Fishing Classic Lake Moondarra

www.lakemoondarrafishingclassic.com.au

8 Nov

BARRA Tour Rd 1 (Evening event) Kinchant Dam

www.abt.org.au

9 Nov

BARRA Tour Rd 2 (Evening event) Teemburra Dam

www.abt.org.au

11-12 Nov

BARRA Tour Rd 3 (Evening event) Peter Faust

www.abt.org.au

14-15 Nov

BARRA Tour Rd 4 (Evening event) Peter Faust

www.abt.org.au

Dec 2-4

ABT BREAM Grand Final St Georges Basin

www.abt.org.au

Dec 2-4

Sports Tuition Fishing Classic Lake Moogerah

Steve Wilkes 0403 154 510

Add your tournament or competition to this list by emailing jthomas@fishingmonthly.com.au or calling 07 3387 0800 in office hours. Just supply a date, venue, tournament name and a telephone number and contact name. OCTOBER 2016

Clancy Corporation Lake Moondarra Classic One lucky angler at the 2016 Clancy Corporation Lake Moondarra Fishing Classic could be taking home $50,000. The bounty is once again set for the famous Mount Isa Water Board Tagged Barra! Catapulting the iconic Mount Isa based event back into the title of the richest freshwater fishing competition in Queensland’, the Tagged Barra will join a line-up of over 20 other fishing categories, offering anglers of all ages and skill sets the chance to take home an array of prizes, cash and trophies. A true icon of the outback fishing world, barramundi is the Lake Moondarra Fishing Classic’s most popular species. They’re a tough fighting and often elusive catch, stocked into the Lake by the Mount Isa Fish Stocking Group. Stephen Farrelly, Chief Executive of the Mount Isa Water Board spoke of the significance of

“Barramundi are a very popular target species for local anglers and visitors coming to Mount Isa,” he said. “Supporting the Mount Isa Fish Stocking Group to place a $50,000 prize purse on the Mount Isa Water Board Tagged Barra is important for the event, as it increases media attention, enticing anglers from outside the region to come and enjoy the amenity Lake Moondarra provides.” It’s renowned as an event that offers something for everyone. The Lake Moondarra Fishing Classic will also see the return of the popular Team category this year, along with an all new novelty prize category. Titled ‘Pluk a Duk’, the quirky named competition will see nominated competitors land a number of rubber duckies,

Proving that barra can be caught by anglers of all ages, Nicholas Thinee proudly displayed his prize-winning catch before release at the 2015 Lake Moondarra Fishing Classic. bringing the Tagged Barra prize to the event once again in 2016.

strategically placed out on the water, over the span of the competition. When presented to the weigh station, these will entitle angers to a $150 voucher from the supporting local businesses and our generous sponsors. George Fortune called it, “A fun initiative aimed at increasing opportunities for local businesses to benefit from the event.” He noted that the Pluk a Duk competition will also allow those that may not be the best of anglers to still be rewarded for their support.” The 2016 Clancy Corporation Lake Moondarra Fishing Classic will take place from 12pm 28-30 October, with presentations to follow. Make sure you don’t miss this great competition. There will be great prizes won, and big fish caught! – Moondarra Classic

Moreton Bay Fishing Challenge The Wilson Moreton Bay and Offshore Family Fishing Challenge was run again this winter, with three sections – Mens, Ladies and Juniors. The three day event had some notable catches. Mark Woodward caught his 43.5cm whiting, and won the Whiting 40cm Club section. Most notable catch went to Richard Paterson with his mangrove jack at

7.03kg. Fluer Pittman took out the Ladies Heaviest Bream at 810g and Rebecca Baeb came second, with 752g. In the Catch and Release section, Jason Clive took out the largest flathead at 75.5cm. Rebecca Baeb was smashing it – she took out a 70cm flattie to win the Ladies section. Lachlan Baker had a 46.5cm for the Juniors. – Wilson

HEAVIEST BREAM Place.................... Angler.............................. Weight Men’s 1................. Ben Longden........................ 1.52 Jnr 1..................... Jesse Hinder......................... 0.98 Jnr 2..................... Ethan MacDonald................. 0.87 HEAVIEST WHITING Place.................... Angler.............................. Weight Ladies’ 1............... Rebecca Baeb...................... 0.44 Jnr 1..................... Mason Baeb.......................... 0.63 Jnr 2..................... Lachlan Fay........................... 0.51 HEAVIEST MULLOWAY Place.................... Angler.............................. Weight Men’s 1................. Richard Paterson................... 7.38 SHARE SHAREYOUR YOUR Men’s 2................. James Mason....................... 4.44

HEAVIEST TAILOR Place.................... Angler.............................Weight Men’s 1................. Gary Enkelmann...................1.77 Men’s 2................. Darryl Bahr...........................0.88 Men’s 3................. Warren Richards..................0.79 HEAVIEST SWEETLIP Place.................... Angler.............................Weight Men’s 1................. Bodhi Gould.........................0.47 Men’s 2................. Brad Matherson...................0.45 Men’s 3................. Jack Hayler..........................0.44 HEAVIEST FLATHEAD Place.................... Angler............................ Weight Men’s 1................. Max Jeanneret.................... 1.42 Men’s 2................. Nev Walters......................... 1.42 Men’s 3................. David Macdonald................ 1.23 Ladies’ 1............... Rebecca Baeb.................... 1.39 Ladies’ 2............... Nitishma Boxshall............... 1.00 Jnr 1..................... Jesse Hinder....................... 1.46 Jnr 2..................... Jessey Silk.......................... 1.10 HEAVIEST SNAPPER Place.................... Angler.............................Weight Men’s 1................. Glen Bellamy.........................7.12 Men’s 2................. David Holman......................3.75 Men’s 3................. Joshua Senczak...................2.88 Ladies’ 1............... Rebecca Baeb.....................0.98 Create, Create, JOIN JOIN&&FOLLOW FOLLOW Jnr 1..................... Izac Matherson....................2.35 Jnr 2..................... Jack Yunker..........................0.99

CATCHES CATCHES CATCHES CATCHES

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Sovereign Resort Hotel 2nd Barra competition The Sovereign Resort Hotel is proud to present its second annual Barramundi competition. This year’s family fun packed event is running from midday Friday to Sunday, October 28-30. First prize is based on a mystery weight Barramundi, which makes

the event fun for everyone. This event is all about family fun in the outdoors, not how many fish you catch or how big they are. All fish that are weighed in go into the draw. At the presentation, a lucky weight will be drawn from the barrel. The closest barramundi to the

The Sovereign Resort Hotel Barramundi Competition is an event all about family outdoor fun. The prizes are based on a mystery weight so anyone can be a winner.

mystery weight determines the winner of the Quintrex Explorer F390, including a 20hp Yamaha, boat trailer, safety gear and rego. There are 16 major prizes up for grabs, including six prizes for mangrove jack, if that’s your preferred targeted species. The entry fee includes a wonderful spit roast lunch at the presentation on Sunday, with entertainment by Tablelands band, Hot Whiskey. On the Sunday afternoon there will be family fun events including a lure casting competition and events for the kids. Last year, the first ever Barramundi Competition was a real hoot, and I’m positive everyone who attended will be back again this year. Once you’ve registered and pick up up your competitor’s ID from the resort, you can travel throughout the region fishing, so long as you’re back at the resort by 11:30am on Sunday. There is an awesome discounted in-house accommodation package for any anglers staying at the resort, or if you like camping, round up your mates, grab your swag and hook up the tinny. Hope to see you all in Cooktown on the final

Left: The prizes are based on a mystery weight for this event, so anyone can be a winner. Right: The anglers who attended last year’s competition will be back again this year for sure. weekend of the Barra season. A big shout out to our major sponsors XXXX, Bundaberg Rum and Russel Bowman from The Lure Shop in Cooktown. Without their generous support,

this awesome weekend of fishing and fun would not be possible. If you’re interested in attending this year’s Sovereign Resort Hotel Barramundi Competition,

Over $55,000 in total prizes

please check us out on Facebook at the Sovereign Resort Hotel page, contact the office directly on info@ sovereignresort.com.au, or give us a call on 0740 430 500. – Sovereign Resort

Over Over Over Over Over Over Over Over Over Over Over Over $$$$ $55,000 $55,000 $55,000 $55,000 $55,000 $55,000 $55,000 $55,000 $55,000 $55,000 $55,000 $55,000 Over in total in total inin total in in in in total total in in total in total total total total total in total Thousands $55,000 prizes prizes prizes prizes prizes prizes prizes prizes prizes prizes prizes prizes total inin total Over prizes $55,000 prizes! in total prizes

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TWO TWO LUCKY LUCKY DRAW DRAW BOATS BOATS TO GIVE TO AWAY! GIVE AWAY! TWO LUCKY DRAW BOATS TO GIVE AWAY! TWO TWO TWO TWO TWO TWO TWO LUCKY TWO LUCKY LUCKY LUCKY LUCKY LUCKY LUCKY LUCKY DRAW DRAW DRAW DRAW DRAW DRAW DRAW DRAW BOATS BOATS BOATS BOATS BOATS BOATS BOATS BOATS TO TO TO TO TO GIVE GIVE TO TO GIVE GIVE TO GIVE GIVE GIVE AWAY! GIVE AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! AWAY! TWO LUCKY DRAW BOATS TO GIVE AWAY! TWO LUCKY DRAW BOATS TWO TO GIVE LUCKY AWAY! DRAW BOATS TO GIVE AWAY! TWO LUCKY DRAW BLUEFIN BOATS TO GIVE AWAY! TWO LUCKY DRAW BOATS TO GIVE AWAY! • Lucky • Lucky draws draws • All fishing • All fishing styles styles • Lucky draws • All fishing styles • • Lucky Lucky • • • Lucky Lucky Lucky • • Lucky Lucky • Lucky draws draws draws draws draws draws draws draws • • All All • • • All All All • • fishing All fishing All • fishing fishing All fishing fishing fishing fishing styles styles styles styles styles styles styles styles PHOTOS FOR ILLUSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY, ACCESSORIES NOT INCLUDES. • Lucky draws • All fishing styles permitted permitted • Venue camp Moogerah permitted permitted permitted permitted permitted permitted permitted permitted permitted • Lucky draws • All • Lucky fishing draws styles • All fishing styles permitted • Early • Early entry entry prizes prizes entry prizes •Early Early •••Early Early Early •••Early Early •Early Early entry entry entry entry entry entry entry prizes prizes prizes prizes prizes prizes prizes prizes •entry Lucky draws • All fishing styles ••Early entry prizes permitted permitted • All fishing • All fishing craft craft permitted • All fishing craft • • All All • • • All All All • • fishing All fishing All • fishing fishing All fishing fishing fishing fishing craft craft craft craft craft craft craft craft • Early entry prizes ••Catch, • Early entry prizes • All fishing craft • Fee includes cabin accommodation, camping •photo Early entry prizes Catch, •Catch, Catch, photo photo and and photo and ••Catch, Catch, •••Catch, Catch, Catch, •••Catch, Catch, •Catch, photo photo photo photo photo photo photo and and and and and and and and photo and permitted permitted permitted permitted permitted permitted permitted permitted permitted permitted permitted • All fishing craft • All fishing craft permitted • All fishing craft release release release release release release release release release release • Catch, photo and •release Catch, photophoto and and •visitor Catch, release or day access permitted permitted permitted release release release Lake Maroon Lake isMaroon approximately approximately 90 minutes 90 from minutes Brisbane from Brisbane and the Gold and the Gold Lake Maroon approximately 90 minutes from Brisbane and the Gold Lake Lake Lake Lake Lake Maroon Maroon Lake Lake Maroon Maroon Lake Maroon Maroon Maroon is is Maroon approximately approximately is isisapproximately approximately is approximately isisapproximately approximately isis approximately 90 90 90 minutes 90 minutes 90 minutes 90 90 minutes minutes 90 minutes minutes from minutes from from from from Brisbane Brisbane from from Brisbane Brisbane from Brisbane Brisbane Brisbane Brisbane and and and and and the the and and the the Gold the Gold and the the Gold Gold Gold the Gold Gold Gold Lake Maroon is approximately 90 minutes from Brisbane and the Gold

• Lucky draws • Early entry prizes • Catch, photo and release

Coast. The Coast. competition The competition will be based will be at based Camp at Lake Camp Fire, Lake which Fire, has which direct has direct Coast. The competition will be based at Camp Lake Fire, which has direct Coast. Coast. Coast. Coast. Coast. Coast. Coast. The The Coast. The The The competition competition The The competition competition competition The competition competition competition will will will will be will be will will be based be based be will based be based be based be based based at at based Camp at Camp at atCamp Camp at at Camp Camp Lake at Camp Lake Camp Lake Lake Lake Fire, Fire, Lake Lake Fire, Fire, Lake Fire, which which Fire, Fire, which which Fire, which which has which has which has has direct has direct has has direct direct direct has direct direct direct Lake Maroon is approximately 90 minutes from Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The competition will be based at Camp Lake Fire, which has direct Lake Maroon is approximately 90 minutes Lake from Maroon Brisbane is approximately and the Gold 90 minutes from Brisbane and the Gold boat launching boat launching access. Early access. Entry Early –Senior: Senior: Entry –$30; $30; Senior: Junior: $30; $15 Junior: (Junior $15 must (Junior must Coast. The competition will be based at Camp Lake Fire, which has direct boat launching access. Early Entry – Senior: $30; Junior: $15 (Junior must boat boat boat boat boat launching launching boat boat launching launching boat launching launching launching launching access. access. access. access. access. access. access. Early Early access. Early Early Early Entry Early Entry Early Entry Early Entry Entry – Entry – Entry Senior: – Entry – – Senior: Senior: Senior: – – Senior: Senior: – $30; Senior: $30; $30; $30; Junior: Junior: $30; $30; Junior: Junior: $30; Junior: Junior: Junior: $15 $15 Junior: $15 $15 (Junior $15 (Junior $15 $15 (Junior (Junior (Junior $15 (Junior (Junior must must (Junior must must must must must boat launching access. Early Entry – Senior: $30; Junior: $15 (Junior must Registrations through Coast. The competition will be based at Camp Coast.Lake TheFire, competition which has will direct be based at Camp Lake Fire, which has direct must boat launching access. Early Entry –2015). Senior: $30; Junior: $15 (Junior must be under be 14 under years on 14 years November on November 14, 2015). 14, be under 14 years on November 14, 2015). be be be under be under be under be under be under be under 14 under 14 under years 14 14 years 14 years years 14 14 years on years 14 on years on years November on November on November on November on November on November November November 14, 14, 14, 14, 2015). 2015). 14, 14, 2015). 14, 2015). 2015). 14, 2015). 2015). 2015). be under 14 years on November 14, 2015). boat launching access. Early Entry – Senior: boat $30; launching Junior: access. $15 (Junior Early must Entry – Senior: $30; Junior: $15 (Junior must www.sportstuition.com.au be under 14 years on November 14, 2015). be under 14 years on November 14, 2015).be under 14 years on November 14, 2015).

Registrations through www.sportstuition.com.au

Registrations Registrations through through Registrations through Registrations Registrations Registrations Registrations Registrations Registrations Registrations Registrations through through through through through through through Early Entry –through Senior $95; Junior $75 Registrations through Registrations through www.sportstuition.com.au www.sportstuition.com.au (Junior must be www.sportstuition.com.au under through 14 years on December 3rd, 2016) www.sportstuition.com.au www.sportstuition.com.au www.sportstuition.com.au www.sportstuition.com.au www.sportstuition.com.au www.sportstuition.com.au www.sportstuition.com.au www.sportstuition.com.au www.sportstuition.com.au www.sportstuition.com.au Registrations www.sportstuition.com.au

OCTOBER 2016

Slater’s Clarence revenge CE 1ST PLA Tom Slater secured his maiden ABT BREAM Qualifier victory almost 12 months after leading the BREAM Grand Final on the very same waterway. Wind back the clock to last year’s grand final and Slater lead on the Clarence after day one, but failed to find limits over the next two days and finished well down the field. Slater got his revenge this time. After sitting 4th overnight, Slater sacked up the heaviest five fish limit of the tournament at 3.2kg to relegate good friend Tristan Taylor to 2nd place. There’s no doubting Slater was on the right fish throughout the weekend, managing to claim victory despite only catching 4/5 on the first day of competition. His 9/10, 6.14kg limit was 130g clear of Taylor and one of only two limits above 6kg. Arriving early Friday morning, Slater launched his boat and made his first stop on the upper end of Middle Wall. “I caught a 32 forker on my first cast on pre-fish day on Middle Wall on a Gomoku Crank. After that I went in tight and spooked some more, so I thought ‘that’ll do’ and moved on.” After checking Middle Reef and seeing a fleet of boats already fishing, Slater turned around and went upstream, to catch the last of the run-in tide at Browns Rocks. His first cast there played out exactly the same as his first cast at Middle Wall.

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“Those first two fish being above 30 told me I knew what I needed to do. I don’t try and complicate things at the Clarence, I know where they live and I’ve spent a long time ironing out every little detail of how to catch them, so unless something crazy is happening upriver, I generally stay down the front.” Day 1 saw Slater with an early boat draw, and like the pre-fish, his first stop was the upper end of Middle Wall. Fishing a Storm Gomoku Crank in BG colour tight to the wall on 3lb straight through fluorocarbon, Slater put two fish in the boat early before a professional fisher moved in on the stretch Slater was fishing. “The technique was really straightforward. I just got in tight to the wall and threw the crank as far as I could and used a slow roll back to the boat. The lure would bump over the rocks at the base of the wall. This is why I like that Gomoku Crank, it’s got quite a square bib, so it deflects really well. I usually hooked up just after it deflected.” After a few fruitless stops on other walls in the front of the system, Slater made the run up to Browns Rocks to attempt to fill his bag. “I generally prefer Browns Rocks on a run-out tide, but this tournament we had a run-in almost all session,” said Slater. “The difference between catching them at Browns and not catching them can be as simple as not paying attention. I cannot stress how hard I concentrate on each and every cast, ensuring I have the perfect amount of line out, the perfect boat speed and the perfect cast

so that my lure gets to the bottom and I can feel it straight away. You’re not going to catch one if you can’t feel it bite!” Opting for the everreliable Heavy Cranka Crab in a variety of colours, Slater essentially dragged the crab

With two more legals in the boat before midday, Slater felt great about the bag he had built. “Every fish I had on the first day was over 30cm to the fork, I had one 35cm that weighed 910g and the rest must have been about 700g

Tom Slater with a pair of his Clarence winning bream. over the bottom. It sounds easy but it’s not. “I pay really close attention to what my lure is doing and try to ‘hover’ the crab just above the rocks, to try and avoid snagging. Then it’s a case of waiting to feel a bite, and if they miss, I quickly slow the boat with the electric and open the bail arm to try and let the crab sit on the bottom and stop drifting.”

apiece. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get that fifth one, which goes to show how tough it was over the weekend. To not catch five off Browns Rocks definitely shows it was a tough bite.” Heading out on day 2, Slater was adamant to not fall into the same hole that swallowed him in the 2015 BREAM Grand Final. Starting again on Middle

Retrieve Move rod position

Heavy Cranka Crab Cast

Storm Gomoku Crank BG

OSP Dunk P45 Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888. 92

OCTOBER 2016

Wall, Slater could see the fish, but there was no way he could convince them to eat a crankbait. “I could see them on the wall, so I threw an assortment of cranks and couldn’t get a reaction, so I went to an unweighted

Ecogear Aqua Bream Prawn and let it drift over the wall. I managed one solid keeper doing that before it shut down.” Bailing from the front before 10am, Slater headed to Browns Rocks and found his fortunes much better

than the day prior. “I had my limit filled by lunch time, then it was a matter of finding a few upgrades,” explained Slater. With an hour to go in the session, the tide had stopped, the bite was off, and nothing much was happening. Slater

decided to move in shallow and look for an upgrade, casting an OSP Dunk 48 crankbait to the shallow part of Browns. “The decision to move shallow won me this tournament, and I upgraded a 26 for a 27, then not 10

minutes later upgraded that 27 for a 33cm fork. That was the 130g that got me over the line.” For this win, Slater pocketed $2,400 plus the $300 Yamaha Bonus Cheque for the highest placed boater with a Yamaha on the back,

BREAM

SERIE Presente d by Aus S tackle which by all accounts, is going straight towards a new tow vehicle.

Taylor doubles down for second place again CE 2ND PLA Tristan Taylor was relegated to bridesmaid position again, after two consecutive days on the front of the system produced a 10/10 6.01kg limit. Not making it to Clarence until the Friday afternoon, Taylor didn’t get a chance to pre-fish. Instead, he relied on his previous experience and knowledge of the waterway to get him by. Taylor spent his entire tournament fishing the bottom end of Middle Wall, a popular spot on the Clarence River that produces bream throughout the entire year. Taylor however, approached it differently from the other boats also fishing the area.

“I actually started the morning of day 1 in close as I would normally do at Middle Wall, but I noticed fish staging underneath the boat on the sounder. So I cast out the opposite side, away from the wall and quickly hooked a solid 30cm fork fish. I followed that with three more, all over 30 in about five casts. That’s what really set me up for this weekend.” There’s no doubt Taylor’s fish were in good condition, even with him failing to get one of the kicker bites you so often need to finish up the pointy end of the field. Taylor’s consistent 3kg average bags were put together by limits of bream all around 30cm to the fork. The fish were sitting on the sand, off the edge of Middle Wall where Taylor believes they were still spawning, which would contribute to his better than average bag weight.

His technique was one that has become somewhat synonymous with the

Clarence River, fishing deep with a Cranka Crab. The floating claws of the Cranka

-BOATER 1ST NON Stuart Walker continued his domination of the non-boater side of the Costa BREAM Series by claiming his 3rd victory this season. The only non-boater to weigh a full 10/10 limit, Walker claimed the win by over a kilo from Rodney O’Sullivan. Pre-fishing with Todd Riches, the pair had a look at the vast majority of the river from Maclean to the mouth, catching fish almost everywhere they stopped but lacking size. Walker used the pre-fish day to identify

with 10lb Unitika Aorikira braid, topped with a 6lb Unitika Aiger fluorocarbon leader. He fished two different coloured Cranka Crabs throughout the weekend, olive and cockle. Taylor won $1200 for second place as well as the $375 first place pro cheque, which he got from backing himself at the briefing on Friday night.

WINNING NOTES

Winning Edge

Adjusting with the tides was Slater’s key to success on the Clarence. Hitting Middle Wall with just the right amount of tidal flow and then moving shallow on the second day at Browns Rocks when the tide slowed proved invaluable to secure the final upgrade to the biggest bag of the tournament.

Winning Tackle Crankbait Gear

Rod: 13 Fishing MUSE Gold 72L 2-6lb Reel: One 3 Creed GT 2000 Line: 3lb Gamma Touch Fluorocarbon Lures: OSP Dunk P45, Storm Gomoku Crank BG

Tristan Taylor claimed another podium finish at the Clarence.

Walker wins the triple crown key lures and techniques that were likely to dominate his weekend. Day 1 saw Walker paired with QLD BREAMer Peter Cashman. A veteran of bream fishing, Cashman is no slouch on the waters of the Clarence. The plan for the day was simple, Middle Reef right between the two seaway walls. The fishing was hot to start, with Walker achieving a full limit and two upgrades by 11am. Opting to fish a ZMan 2.5” GrubZ in motor oil colour on 1/4oz TT Jigheads, Walker worked the lure off the bottom with short sharp hops, quickly setting the hooks when he felt a bite in the deep water. “Fishing the deep, fast flowing water like that really made me appreciate the quality of the gear I was using. Those

Crab make it the ultimate deepwater lure for Taylor and many others, reducing snags and increasing hook-ups. It’s a combination of the ultrarealistic finish and clever features that make the Cranka one of the most successful lures for fishing the Clarence. Taylor’s equipment consisted of a Samurai Reaction 201 rod, Daiwa Freams 2500 spin reel, loaded

Daiwa Silverwolf Z rods are just so sensitive,” Walker said. By 11am, the bite had slowed to the point where Cashman and Walker were simply wasting time. The pair both had respectable limits and waited for the clock to run out. Weighing 5/5 for 2.79kg, Walker was well and truly in the driver’s seat of this tournament. Walker found himself aboard ABT rookie Brandon Gosbell’s boat for Day 2. Walker had seen Gosbell fishing nearby on day one, so he was confident they were going to be around fish again. Gosbell was out of the blocks quickly, fishing the end tip of Middle Wall. Walker took a little while to get the hang of fishing the popular spot. With two fish by mid-morning, and

Crab Gear

Gosbell looking for more, the pair made the quick move to the pontoons right next to the Yamba Tavern, and it was here Walker went to work on filling out his full tournament limit. Fishing a heavy Cranka Crab around the pontoons and poles, Walker put three more fish in the boat. The pair then returned back to Middle Wall and both managed a few upgrades, and although it was a smaller bag than the previous day’s catch, it was still more than enough get him over the line. Walker’s gear consisted of Daiwa Silverwolf 2004 reels, matched with Silverwolf Z ShiShi-Ou and Sei-Ryuu rods spooled with 6lb Daiwa Evo 8 braid and 4lb Sunline Bream Special fluorocarbon leader.

TOP 10 BOATERS

Rod: 13 Fishing ENVY Black 71LM 2-8lb Reel: One 3 Creed GT 2000 Line: Sufix Nanobraid 8lb Leader: Gamma 6lb Fluorocarbon Lures: Heavy Cranka Crab, Olive Crab, Brown Crab, Cockle Crab

Austackle Big BREAM

James Morgan claimed the $500 Austackle Big BREAM with a 1.25kg stud. Morgan caught the fish along Middle Wall, fishing a Cranka Crab deep at the base of the rocks. Morgan took home a huge prize bag courtesy of Austackle to go along with the $500 cash.

OSP Rookie Award

Brandon Gosbell won the OSP Rookie Award in his first ever ABT BREAM Qualifier. Gosbell put together two great days on the Clarence to finish the tournament in 6th place with a 10/10 5.23kg limit. Gosbell fished the front of Middle Wall both days to place in the money in his first ABT event, and took home a great prize bag full of OSP product for his efforts.

TOP 10 NON-BOATERS

Place

Angler

Fish

Weight (kg)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Tom SLATER Tristan TAYLOR Matthew FINNEY Taigan HEATH Russell BABEKUHL Brandon GOSBELL Graham FRANKLIN Warren CARTER Mark CROMPTON Chris BRITTON

9/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 8/10 9/10

6.14 6.01 5.72 5.64 5.35 5.23 4.93 4.73 4.65 4.58

For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

Payout $2400 $1200 $1000 $750 $650 $525 $450 $450

Place

Angler

Fish

Weight (kg)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Stuart WALKER Rodney O’SULLIVAN Luke SLAVIN Simon WILSON Clint VOSS Clint NORTHCOTT Russell WINTERS Andrew HARTCHER Shaun EGAN Brett PENPRASE

10/10 8/10 7/10 7/10 8/10 7/10 6/10 7/10 7/10 6/10

4.97 3.82 3.47 3.27 3.24 3.15 3.08 3.07 3.05 2.94

Payout Costa Prize Pack Samurai Prize Pack Berkley Prize Pack Spotters Prize Pack Tonic Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack

For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au OCTOBER 2016

Carter claims coast and AOY CE 1ST PLA Victorian BREAMer Warren Carter stamped his name on the PowerPole Angler of the Year title in emphatic fashion, winning the final qualifying event, the Berkley Gold Coast BREAM Qualifier. There’s certainly no better way to guarantee an AOY victory than by winning the final event. With six anglers in contention going into the final event, Carter knew exactly what everyone needed to improve their tally. With one of the largest playing fields on the ABT calendar, anglers could spread out from as far north as Mud Island in Moreton Bay, all the way to the upper reaches of the Nerang River. With the forecasted winds not eventuating until late on day one, Moreton Bay was cleared for exploration for the first session, and that’s exactly where Carter exploded out of the gates to take the overnight lead. “I spent most of my pre-fish day exploring Moreton Bay,” said Carter, “I fished all of the southern bay islands and didn’t find much that excited me, so I travelled to Mud Island and caught three nice fish and decided that was enough for me to make the hour and 20 minute run from the start line.” Carter arrived at Mud Island and was greeted by a low tide, with much of the shallow reef exposed. Carter turned his attention to the steep reef edge where he

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began his day fishing a mixed assortment of deep diving crankbaits. “I really understood how much the tide influences the fish in Moreton Bay. Almost all of the water I was fishing later in the day was high and dry, those fish have to move somewhere so naturally I assumed they would be on the reef edge waiting for the tide to rise.” His day went almost perfectly to plan, apart from losing one good quality kilo class fish halfway through the session. He quickly remedied with the tournament’s Austackle Big BREAM, a 38cm fork Moreton Bay special. Throughout the day, Carter continued to adjust to the rising tide. Initially moving to the inside edge of the main drop off, he then continued over the shallow flat finishing right up on the mangrove line as the session ended with a high tide. His technique was straightforward and perfectly suited to targeting fish that are looking to feed in the shallow water when the tide allows. “I relied solely on a slow rolled crankbait on the first day, it allowed me to cover a lot of water and got the attention of plenty of bream the first day. I alternated between three different lures: a deep Cranka Crank, deep Jackall Chubby and a Smith Camion Dredge,” said Carter. Carter fished the fat profile crankbaits on 11lb Varivas Max Game braid and 5lb Varivas Absolute fluorocarbon leader. He favoured an EDGE Black Widow 702 rod, rated 4-8lb and paired it with a Shimano Stella 2500 reel. With Moreton Bay shut to anglers on day two due to high winds, Carter’s game plan

flew out the window. Visibly shaken by the news his newly found honey hole would be unavailable, Carter threw caution to the wind, opting to travel almost the same time in the opposite direction to access the bridges of the upper Nerang River. “I’d spoken to my good friend Cam Whittam about where he was fishing, because my limited experience on the

throughout the upper canal system with heavy Cranka Crabs. “The first bridge I pulled up to I had a legal on the second cast, so that sort of set the tone for me for the rest of the day, I spot hopped from bridge to bridge, and slowly filled a respectable bag for the canals.” Carter would target the small eddies formed on the down current side of each

Warren Carter holds aloft two of the fish from his Gold Coast and AOY winning bag. Nerang left me with only a few spots up my sleeve, and Cam had been fishing some of those spots. So I decided to replicate what I’d done in the past and just apply that same technique in different areas.” Not wanting to intrude on his good friend, Carter travelled into Lake Intrepid, and targeted all the bridges

bridge pylon. The heavy weighted Cranka Crab would fall down the pylon and often Carter would get hit on the drop or almost as soon as it hit the bottom. As it turned out, his 5/5 2.36kg limit only just scraped Carter clear of second placed Ross Cannizzaro by a mere 40g.

Jackall Chubby

Gravel bottom

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888. 94

OCTOBER 2016

Ross ‘Canal’ Cannizzaro CE 2ND PLA Ross Cannizzaro travelled north to the QLD doubleheader to ensure he qualified for the upcoming Costa BREAM Grand Final on St Georges Basin. Having seen the title slip through his fingers at the Hawkesbury River in 2014, Cannizzaro is out for revenge. With only limited experience from one prior visit to the expansive waterways of the Gold Coast, Cannizzaro decided to eliminate water that was at the extremities of the tournament venue. “I didn’t even know where to begin, so I stayed in the broadwater for the entire tournament. Where I knew the channels and speed zones, and wouldn’t eat into

my tournament session by travelling long distances.” An experienced structure fisherman spending so much time on the structure-laden waterways of Sydney Harbour, Cannizzaro was comfortable in amongst the plethora of pontoons, pylons, jetties and boats scattered throughout the broadwater. But it was two specific areas with increased current flow that garnered most of his attention. “Sovereign Island and Runaway Bay that seemed to hold better than average fish, and even with my little experience on the Gold Coast, I knew that a bag of 28-30cm class fish was well and truly above par.” Focusing on these two areas, Cannizzaro went to work with his Abu Garcia arsenal, focusing on hitting the deepest and darkest sections of each pontoon or boat, where he knew few others would spend the time or have the skills to present a lure to the

bream lurking beneath. “I had to be really creative in some instances to get a lure where I thought there would be one sitting, occasionally even busting out the bow-andarrow cast to get a lure into a tight gap.” Identifying early on that the fish were responding much better to a lure with a very slow fall, Cannizzaro trimmed up, lightening his jighead selection from a 1/24oz Nitro to a 1/50oz Nitro Hidden Weight, which when paired with the ever faithful Gulp Camo Craw offered an irresistible slow sink that Gold Coast bream just couldn’t ignore. “Day one I probably caught close to 50 fish, it was one of those magical days that everything just goes right. My non-boater Mark Lawson said to me that my bag would challenge those that travelled the long distance to Moreton Bay and I was surprised to be that far up the standings after the first day.”

BREAM

Presente SERIES d by Berk ley

Ross Cannizzarro was as consistent as ever, finishing second at the Berkley presented Gold Coast round of the Costa BREAM Series. With the bay closed on day two, Cannizzaro knew he stood a good chance of running down those in front, with a solid plan in place and a good supply of fish, it was only a stroke of bad timing that might have possibly cost him the victory. “It was late on the second day and I’d miss-timed my run back to Runaway Bay, the tide had risen and there was a real off-coloured water clarity throughout most of the canal, but there was one

Rocket Rod’s day two rally -BOATER 1ST NON Rodney O’Sullivan stormed home on day two of the Berkley Gold Coast BREAM Qualifier to back up his runner-up finish from the previous weekend’s event with a win to round out the almost perfect northern swing. O’Sullivan found himself with the local gold, as he drew QLD locals Mick Torley and Nabeel Issa, two boaters with arguably more experience on the Gold Coast than anyone else in the field. Starting day one with Torley, the pair headed left out of the start at Southport to a set of canals around The Southport School in the lower reaches of the Nerang River. While Torley had a bag early, O’Sullivan struggled to unlock the secrets of fishing as a non-boater in a waterway like the Gold Coast.

With no fish in the well by midday, O’Sullivan changed his approach; he targeted the various boat ramps and sandy patches between the pontoons, completely ignoring the obvious structure that attracts almost all of the attention.

a lot and it took me a while to adapt to how best to approach it fishing from the back of the boat.” Weighing 4/5 for 1.76kg, O’Sullivan found himself in 6th place with a number of anglers hot on his tails.

Rodney O’Sullivan secured victory in the non-boater division. “I managed to scrape up four fish in the last few hours throwing Ecogear Aqua Bream Prawns in salt and pepper into the gaps between the pontoons. It’s not a technique I’ve fished

On day two, they headed to the deep water of the Seaway. The pair went to work on the deep water, adding a number of good quality fish to their bags in quick succession.

WINNING NOTES

An experienced deep water fisherman, O’Sullivan relied on a heavy Cranka Crab fished slow and deep to draw the bites. O’Sullivan also lathered the bait in Liquid Mayhem scent, which he believed helped draw fish back for a second or third attempt if they initially missed the hooks. It didn’t take long for him to put together a five fish limit, and ended the day with a number of small upgrades that pushed his 5/5 limit to 2.55kg, the biggest bag from a non-boater across the whole tournament. O’Sullivan delivered his lures on his brand new Samurai Reaction 203 rod that he took home from the Austackle Clarence River BREAM Qualifier only a few days before. He paired the new rod with a Shimano Stradic Ci4 2500 and spooled the reel with 9lb Yamatoyo Resin Sheller PE and chose a lighter 3lb Yamatoyo Fluorocarbon leader. “I definitely noticed I was getting more bites on the lighter 3lb line than on the 5lb I was originally using,” said O’Sullivan.

TOP 10 BOATERS Place Angler

Fish

Weight

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

5.71 5.67 5.62 5.36 5.32 5.09 5.02 4.96 4.89 4.86

Warren CARTER Ross CANNIZZARO Tony MOORE Steve ELDRED Tristan TAYLOR Alex ROY Russell BABEKUHL Ben RICHARDS Tom SLATER James HOWARTH

probably 100m stretch of clear water with fish loaded under every pontoon. At that stage I had a bag of 26 and 27cm fish, and in the last 20 minutes, I upgraded every single fish I had. With an extra 10-20 minutes to fish the last of the stretch of pontoons, I think I would have scraped up the extra 40g I needed.” Cannizzaro’s key bait was a cut-down Berkley Gulp Craw, in camo colour, which he threw on a 1/50oz Nitro

hidden weight jighead. He threw the offering on a slightly shorter 6’10” Abu Garcia KRX Salty Stage rod, which he favoured for the accurate casting he desired. He paired the rod with the matching Abu Revo MGX 20 reel, which he spooled with 4lb Berkley Exceed braid and topped it off with a 4lb Berkley Sensei Fluorocarbon leader. Cannizzaro was classy in defeat, offering praise to all anglers who backed themselves to compete at the highest level of tournament bream fishing. He put a lot of his recent success to having his family accompany him on the trips away from home. With a much shorter drive from his base in Sydney to this year’s Costa BREAM Grand Final on St Georges Basin we’re all expecting big things from Cannizzaro, this could be the year he puts his name on the Grand Final trophy.

Winning Tackle

Rod: Edge Black Widow 702 4-8lb Reel: Shimano Stella 2500 Lures: Cranka Crank Deep, Jackall Chubby Deep, Smith Camion Dredge Line: Varivas Max Power PE 11lb Leader: Varivas Absolute Fluorocarbon 5lb

Winning Edge

Taking advantage of the clear weather on day one allowed Carter to make the most of an open Moreton Bay arena. Catching the tournaments biggest limit set up an early lead that turned out to be unassailable. His diversity shone through on day two, fishing almost two hours by boat away from where he’d spent most of his pre-fish and all of the first day of the tournament. Catching his 10/10 limit from two very different locations earned him not only the title of Berkley Gold Coast BREAM Champion, but also the very coveted and highly regarded Power-Pole BREAM Angler of the Year.

Austackle Big BREAM

Carter’s 38cm fork fish claimed the Austackle Big BREAM award. Carter caught the brute on the shallow reef flats of Mud Island, on a slowly retrieved crankbait banging into the reefy bottom. “The deep diving lures actually snag up less in the shallow water, the extra diving angle keeps the trebles away from the reef more so than a shallower diver would.”

TOP 10 NON-BOATERS Payout $2100 + $500 $250 $1,100 $950 + $300 Y $700 $550 $450 + $150 $350 + $100

For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

1st Pro ($200)

Place

Angler

Fish

Weight

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Rodney O’SULLIVAN Mark LAWSON Paul MAZAROLI Jonathan THOMPSON James MORGAN Mark PALAZZI Christian WARDINI Brett WATSON Mathew BACIC Joe ALLAN

9 10 10 10 8 9 8 8 8 7

4.31 3.76 3.71 3.71 3.23 3.20 3.13 2.89 2.84 2.72

Payout Costa Prize Pack Samurai Prize Pack Berkley Prize Pack Spotters Prize Pack Tonic Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack

For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au OCTOBER 2016

FIND-A-WORD COMPETITION THINGS MURRAY COD WILL EAT

GOLF BALL CAT SCISSORS PINEAPPLE ROCK CACTUS SCARF TORCH PLANT POT PEN BEER CAN KNIFE

LEMON PEEL OWL SHOE STRING ECHIDNA PHONE MANGO PIP CLOTHES PEG EVERYTHING CHIHUAHUA BRICK NOT YOUR LURE

Win a pack of Pocket Balls – instant reusable pocketsized heat packs that are safe, waterproof and available in a variety of sport themes, including footy, cricket, golf, tennis, soccer and more! Activated by simple click of the disk inside the ball. To find out more visit www.take5energize.com.au/Pocket-Balls.

Name: Address:

P/Code:

The first correct entry at the end of each month will win the prize pack. SEND ENTRIES TO: QLD Find-a-word Competition, PO box 3172, Loganholme Qld 4129

FINS SCALES & TALES by A. Both

QLD OCTOBER 2016

Phone (day):

FIND-A-WORD

Congratulations to K Weaver of Mudgeeraba, who was last month’s winner of the Find-a-Word Competition! Monthly winners receive a Pocket Balls prize pack. Prize delivery can take 8 weeks. – QFM

BARRA COUNTRY by Brett Currie

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE BITE ME by Trisha Mason

The subscriber prize winner for August was P Muirhead of Hillcrest, who won a Samaki Lure prize pack. All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – QFM

FIND THE ZMAN LOGO

GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

OCTOBER 2016

The answers to Find the ZMan Logo for August were: 10, 14, 19, 22, 24, 26, 32, 38, 45, 48, 51, 77, 84, 112, 129. – QFM The Find the ZMan logo prize winners for August were: G Leverton of Taylors Beach, O Noffke of Kulangoor, A Roods of Port Macquarie, Y Brown of Sunshine Beach, R Gauld of Howard, G Anderson of Emu Park, S Beling of Harristown, S Fraklin of Hay Point, M Osborne of Alexandra Hills, K Sharp of Redbank Plains, M Roots of Innisfail, J Inwood of Kirwan, R Schefe of Point Vernon, J Wogandt of Urangan, W Geaney of Beecher, J Smith of Toobeah, A Kittell of Logan Village, R Taskis of Ashmore, L Bull of Coombabah, M Goodwin of Cardwell, E Bruni of Slacks Creek, A Hewlett of Mothar Mountain, D Allen of Moggill, K Edwards of Innisfail, J Marks of Alberton, J Lowik of Churchill, E & V Jackson of Long Flat Via Gympie, B Evans of River Heads, D Oehlman of Oakey, R Chapman of Gladstone, S Connell of Grahams Creek, J Bowyer of Blackall, C Paul of Bundaberg, S Grainger of Barcaldine, W Newall of Gumnock, M Bennett of Burpengary, S Russell of Caboolture, G Egan of Weipa, C Renz of Crestmead, R Pitt of Gatton. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – QFM

Cooking

Making a crabmeat lasagne with Lynn Bain

Ingredients for the seafood meat layer Olive oil, butter, onion, garlic, crabmeat, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, brown sugar, cheddar cheese and Parmesan cheese, fresh lasagne sheets

Ingredients for the cheese sauce layer Butter, plain flour, milk, cream, cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, fresh lasagne sheets

Heat the olive oil and butter in a large frypan over a medium low heat. Add the chopped onion to the pan and sauté until the onion has softened, but not browned. Grate garlic cloves into the softened onion and continue to sauté for a couple of minutes.

Add the tin of chopped tomatoes to the onions and cook for a couple of minutes. Then add the tomato paste and a good pinch of brown sugar.

3 4 5

Add the crabmeat to the tomato mixture. Gently stir the crabmeat through the sauce and cook for a further minute.

To make the cheese sauce, melt the butter in a saucepan over a medium heat. Add the plain flour to the melted butter and stir it in. Cook for a minute. This is called making a roux.

Remove the saucepan from the heat and add cream to the roux, stirring as you do. Add milk to the saucepan, continuing to stir. Return the saucepan to the heat and stir continuously, until the sauce thickens. Reduce the heat continue cooking the sauce for a couple of minutes.

Add a cup of grated cheddar cheese and 1/2 a cup of grated Parmesan cheese to the sauce. Stir the cheese into the sauce and continue to stir until all the cheese has blended into the sauce.

7 8

Placing a fresh lasagne sheet in the bottom of your lasagne dish. Spoon some of the crabmeat mixture over the top and cover the sheet.

Start another layer – you can use spare off-cuts of the fresh lasagne sheets. Spoon some of the cheese sauce over the second lasagne layer. Continue with a crabmeat layer, another lasagne sheet, then cheese sauce, and continue like this.

Tip some cheddar and Parmesan cheese into a bowl to use as a topping. Combine the cheese and generously sprinkle over the top of the assembled lasagne. The lasagne is now ready for baking. Bake for 30 minutes or until the lasagne is bubbling and golden brown.

When cooked, remove the lasagne from the oven. Allow the lasagne to stand for five minutes to firm up before serving. OCTOBER 2016

Trades, Services, Charter BOAT MODIFICATIONS & REPAIRS

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This section in QLD Fishing Monthly consolidates the trades and services in your area that are relevant to your fishing and boating. Whether you’re a local looking for more options or a travelling angler fishing around the state, this guide will direct you to reputable businesses in the area you’re searching.

Boats & Guided Fishing Tours Directory MARINE MECHANICS // MOBILE WYNUMM MANLY-BAYSIDE

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Fishfinder 560c

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3201 6232

12V Bait Boxes

217 Pine Mountain Road, BRASSALL MARINE TRAILERS Oceanic Boat Trailers (07) 5597 0577 Seatrail Trailers www.seatrailqld.com.au Tinnie Tosser (07) 5498 7339 Sea-Link Special Trailers (07) 3881 3568

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Trades, Services, Charter Boats & Guided Fishing Tours Directory MARINE TRIMMERS

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ROD & REEL REPAIRS

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CHARTER BOATS NORTHERN NSW Evans Head Deep Sea Fishing Charters 0428 828 835 Reel Time Fishing Charters Yamba 0428 231 962

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Smithy’s Fishing Charters Sunshine Coast 0407 574 868 Top Catch Charters Sunshine Coast 0429 013 012 Fish n Crab Charters Mooloolaba 0412 155 814 Offshore Reef and Game Fishing 0413 485 402 Sunshine Coast Fishing Charters (07) 5500 0671 Fishing Offshore Noosa 0418 889 956 Noosa Fishing Charters (07) 5665 8170 Hervey Bay Fishing Charters (07) 4125 3958 Incredible Charters 1300 655 818

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boats & kayaks

In the skipper’s seat 102 Kayak hotspot Inside story...

CrossXCountry Boats are purpose-built fibreglass fishing boats that range in size from 3.7-4.75m in length, and have been around since 2009. These boats are tailor made to Aussie conditons by qualified shipwrights and self-confessed habitual anglers. They’re constantly trying to improving existing product and service, and are always looking to the future in design and developement.

Made for...

CrossXCountry Boats are made to be lighter, quieter, safer and stronger than their competitors, and are endorsed by some of Australia’s top fishing and travelling journalists.

This month...

Wayne Kampe puts the 4.5m Island Hopper through its paces in Pumicestone Passage.

Bob Thornton takes us to big bass Mecca Ewen Maddock Dam on the Sunshine Coast.

104 The dark side

We look into the world of kayak fishing at night, and how to get yourself set for a night raid.

106 Aquayak Snapper Pro Kayak test

Justin Willmer takes the new Snapper Pro Kayak from Aquayak for a paddle on his home waters.

110 CrossXCountry 4.5 Island Hopper

Wayne Kampe tests the 4.5 Island Hopper from CrossXCountry.

112 Waverider 450 tiller

Steve Morgan tests out the brainchild of Pat Jones, the Waverider 450.

Giving a dam about kayaking Ewen Maddock BRISBANE

Bob Thornton

Putting kayaks into dams can often be frustrating. Being a large body of water, they’re usually susceptible to weather and can be overrun with power craft. Because of this, I was very relieved when I first launched my yak into Ewen Maddock Dam on the Sunshine Coast several years ago. ABOUT THE DAM Ewen Maddock is a relatively small body of water compared to other dams in South East Queensland, and lies 4km northeast of Landsbrough in the Mooloolah Valley. The dam was built across Addlington Creek, a tributary of the Mooloolah River, and was completed in 1982. To get there from Brisbane only takes around 50 minutes to an hour. If you’re coming from Brisbane, take the Beerwah Exit on the Bruce Highway onto Steve Irwin Way. After you pass Landsbrough on your left, you should drive past the back end of the dam. Turn left onto Connection Road just before the BP, and after a few hundred metres you’ll see Ewen Maddock Dam Picnic Spot on your left. You’ll be able to park your car and unload your kayak only 20-30m from the water. The little sandy beach on the water’s edge makes launching very easy. Much of the land that surrounds the dam is private property, so access is pretty much limited to this one park, however being such a small dam, it’s easy enough to get across the dam via paddle power. The dam is stocked regularly with Australian bass, golden perch, Mary River cod and saratoga, with a naturally occurring population of eel-tailed catfish and spangled perch, and a noxious population of tilapia. There’s rumours of barramundi being put in by the ‘midnight’ stockers, but I’ve only heard anecdotal reports of captures.

Ewen Maddock Dam is a strictly paddle-craft only dam, meaning no electric motors on canoes or kayaks. ON THE DAM Once you’re on the water, you’ll notice how heavily vegetated the banks and edges are. The sedge grass and water lilies sitting on the tanninstained water make this a very picturesque little dam, and the native birds and other wild life keep it interesting when the fishing is slow. Being fairly open and only just above sea-level, it does cop a bit of wind, but there’s

Ewen Maddock Dam is home to some seriously large bass, like this absolute pig caught by Doug Thornton. Don’t come under-gunned, or you’ll be fruitlessly trying to dig them out of weed and sedge grass all day.

A gob that big can easily munch down big lures, even as long as 120mm. more than enough bays to find at least one little undisturbed patch of water to chip away at. Paddling through the plethora of weedy bays and sedge grass islands, you’ll often see things swirling off around you scooting out of the shallows. These are usually saratoga, and if your kayak allows you to stand up and fish, these toga are very catchable. If you can spot them before they spook, a lure cast near them will often result in a hook up. They aren’t fussy, they just need to be approached with stealth. The main target to most visiting anglers is bass, and although it’s not very wellknown, this is a Mecca for

You can never get tired of catching 50cm+ bass in tight to cover like this – just be prepared to get towed around! 102

OCTOBER 2016

big bass around edges. It’s not uncommon to score bass well over that magic 50cm mark casting lures, and I’ve had days where I’ve nailed several of these ‘kegs’ in just a couple of hours. TIPS FOR FISHING Finding fish As I don’t carry a sounder on my kayak, I like to fish the edges by casting lures. Bass can be found schooling off points and in open water, but I like to have something to cast at. I like to find an edge to work, whether a lilypad edge,

a weed edge or right up tight to the sedge if the weed isn’t too thick. Once I’ve found my edge, it’s helpful to take note of which way the wind is going. With my little sit-on paddle kayak, I tend to get blown around a lot. In the right wind, I can get a breeze behind me and cast out in front of the kayak. You can work a whole edge over if you can get your drift right. When you can get up into one of the bays and out of the wind, you can be literally surrounded by a maze of shallow weed bommies, little lilypad mats and sedge grass islands. By cruising through these bays slowly and making long casts through the gaps, you can cover a lot of water. I’ve found EM to be a year round fishery, and have caught big bass around the edges in all four seasons. I’ve noticed I get fewer fish in winter, but they tend to be bigger. Summer seems to produce more fish for me, but of a slightly smaller class. Lures One of the most effective lures I’ve found in EM is suspending jerkbaits between 6-10cm long. Being able to crank them down beside the weed edge and hover them in the fish’s face is invaluable, and the strikes often come on the pause. Spinnerbaits will produce good fish, but they can foul up very easily on weed, which

can lead to more time spent unfouling the spinnerbait than actually fishing. Lipless crankbaits and vibes have their place in EM, especially around deeper edges and where fish can be seen schooling, but again, these lures can foul up very easily. Weedless presentations are fantastic to have in your kit, and a soft plastic rigged on a worm hook can be a great tool for probing the pockets between the vegetation. If you’re a hardcore bass fanatic, you can even throw

last year or so, I’ve been using weedless frogs over the thick vegetation with great results, just remember to strike hard when the bass engulfs it! Gear In EM, I like to go a little heavier than usual. Using rods just a little heavier than what you’re used to with bass is a good move, because the fish are usually of a better size class, and they live in some very tight country. I’ve been bricked and busted off many times by big, angry EM bass. I even broke a rod one session, where in an effort to

in particular demands the use of heavier braid. When using leaders, 12lb fluorocarbon is a good start, but I’ve used leaders up to 20lb and still gotten myself into trouble. Trial and error is about the only way to find the right gear where you’re able to present your lures naturally and not get stitched up by each fish. HIDDEN GEM Ewen Maddock Dam really is one of those hidden gems, sitting only minutes from civilisation. Being paddle-only, it keeps a lot

This is about the average size for the dam’s edges at the moment. No one could complain with half a dozen of these for a session, especially on topwater. Texas style or ‘punching’ rigs right into the vegetation when the sun’s up and fish are in tight. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, the topwater action can be pretty explosive in the warmer months too. Most bass sized stickbaits, poppers, fizzers and paddlers will work. In the

dig one out of the cover it has buried itself in, I looked away as it dashed out and went under the kayak. Schnap! As a general rule, I like to use 2-5kg rods with 6-10lb braided mainline when working the edges, and beef it up to 3-6kg rods with 10-15lb braided mainline when I’m cruising in the junk. Frogging

people away, and it’s not uncommon to have the whole body of water to yourself. I strongly encourage anyone chasing big bass and a challenge to give this lake a shot. Just remember to come heavy, and if you’re going to fish topwater, pack some spare jocks, for goodness sake!

The perfect boats The perfect boats for barra, bass or bream for barra, bass or bream

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Turning to the dark side BRISBANE

Justin Willmer Find me on Facebook at Yaks On

Busy lives can often see us anglers struggling to get out on the water as much as we would like and the ability to make the most of small windows of time is one area where the kayak comes into its own.

hold fish, launch right there and hopefully make the most of the short session. There are a few key safety considerations to take into account when night fishing, along with a few tips that may see you land a few more on your adventures. SEEING THE LIGHT Boat ramps, marinas, bridges and roads running along the waterfront can

night use and map reading. Most of this information will be included on the packaging of quality headlamps. I avoid rechargeable headlamps with the battery enclosed inside the unit, preferring to choose a headlamp with removable batteries, enabling me to carry a spare set of batteries, or rechargeable batteries and not have the worry of limited

Sunrise and sunset are peak bite times and magic times to be on the water.

Back on the trolley after a successful sunset session. It can be as simple as a kayak, paddle, PDF, rod and reel combo and a dry bag with a bit of safety and fishing gear and we’re on our way… even if we only fish for an hour or two, it can be enough to tame the itchy casting finger and give us our fix. If you’re struggling to find even those small widows of time, then you may have to turn to the dark side. Fishing in the dark, whether it be of an evening or in the wee hours of the morning has its challenges, however it may be the best opportunity you have to sneak a fish in pre or post work, or once the little ones have gone to bed or before they rise for the day. Being able to launch anywhere is an advantage as you can drive to spots that you know

often provide light for setting up, launching and retrieving your kayak, however a good headlamp will do the trick if you are sneaking into less populated areas. I have had good service from a range of headlamps and if you select a waterproof headlamp from reputable brands you should be set up for your adventures. LED is a must, offering a cleaner, more even white light, lower draw, less heat and much less chance of failure when compared to incandescent or halogen bulbs. Check out a range of headlamps and consider waterproof rating, light output, light distance, weight, batteries required, run time, different light functions offered, such as multiple levels of light output, flashing and different coloured light outputs for

run times. Another preference is for a powerful headlamp that can act as a spotlight when on the water, while having multiple levels of light output, so that I can tame the light down when rigging and working within the cockpit of the kayak. It’s not a bad idea to carry a spare headlamp in your dry bag, just in case, and this can be a cheaper, smaller option that is simply carried as a backup to get you out of trouble, but is also handy when trying to change batteries on your main light. Other options to light up your kayak include mounted lights such as LED strip lighting and deck lighting and I have seen some kayak setups on the water that look like a floating nightclub. BE SEEN AND HEARD We can now see what we’re doing, however we

Anglers aren’t the only ones that enjoy hunting with the advantage of lower light. 104

OCTOBER 2016

A pole setup allows the all-round white light to be visible 360° above your seated position. also need to ensure that we can be seen. High-vis and reflective clothing is a good idea and I always wear my inflatable PFD that is fitted with large strips of reflective tape. Reflective tape attached to the kayak is another option, and I have seen some nice efforts with reflective names, eyes and teeth displayed on kayaks. Navigation lighting should be fitted if you are paddling and fishing in the hours of darkness. Kayak anglers that spend extended periods on the water in darkness often set up their kayaks with 12-volt lighting systems consisting of a 12-volt battery, switch panel, all-round white light and red/green port and starboard lights. As I often switch between my larger pedal kayak, a smaller sit-on top and a smaller sit-inside kayak, depending

on the mission, I have opted for portable lighting that can be simply and easily moved from one kayak to another. When it comes to portable lighting, it’s hard to go past Railblaza’s Illuminate i360 Allround White Navigation Light and the Navilight Port/ Starboard (tricolour) Light. The Navilight has a white stern light, along with red and green, port/starboard lights, all of which can be switched on independently, or you can run red/green together or all three at once. I mount this light in front of me in the kayak on a StarPort Extender and simply turn off the white stern light so that it doesn’t shine back into my eyes. The all-round white light is then mounted behind my seat on a Railblaza TelePole 1000 (new version called an Extender Pole 1000), which elevates the light above my seated position so that it is clearly visible for 360°. These light options are excellent quality, made in NZ, waterproof and float light up if detached and thrown to someone in the water.

The Railblaza mounting and lighting system makes setup quick and simple.

had great success at night fishing with live worms and yabbies, flesh baits and mullet gut. Darkness is also a great time to send out a live bait as larger predators often hunt more actively under the cover of darkness. For me, it’s hard to beat actively hunting with a

lure though and feeling an interested tap or brutal strike as you are retrieving the lure. When fishing lures in the dark, I prefer lures that make a bit of noise or move a bit of water, including paddletail plastics, blades and diving hardbodies for targeting sub-surface predators. I’ll

often use plastics such as frogs or paddle-tails on the surface or surface hardbodies such as poppers, walkers and paddlers that create a disturbance for attracting predators that feed on the surface, especially in the shallows. So next time you’re suffering from

Having an organised deck or cockpit area is essential when darkness falls – net, lip grips, ruler and boomerang tool all leashed within arm’s reach.

Geared up and ready for a sunset session.

Netting all fish is a good idea in the dark as it makes them easier to handle and release. It is also a good idea to carry an audible signalling device such as a marine safety whistle attached to your PFD or air horn packed in your dry bag and kept within easy reach. WHERE TO FISH The aquatic world changes at night and it’s amazing how busy swimming areas, crowded boat ramps

and bustling rivers that can be tough areas to fish in daylight hours come alive in the dark. Areas that have some form of lighting are the first port of call, as the light attracts bait and predators lurk in the shadows waiting in ambush. Other prime areas to fish include structure that produces for you in daylight

Quality, waterproof headlamps with multiple light levels are ideal.

hours, including rocks, oysters, weed beds and snags, along with areas that fish should travel along as they actively hunt and feed, such as mangrove edges, weed edges, points, drains and channel edges. If the tides are high, get up on the flats, as fish can be found hunting in shallow water in low light, making sure that you keep noise to a minimum, especially in shallow water. Freshwater anglers should again look to structure that produces during daylight hours, but don’t forget the shallows as fish move into feed under the cover of darkness. Fish will also more actively hunt in open water and covering plenty of ground with noisy lures can produce results. BAIT OR LURE A common question people ask me is do lures work at night and the answer is simple, yes. For those who want to fish their favourite baits in the hours of darkness, these will work too and I have

The author snaps a selfie after a successful night raid, with one fish kept for dinner.

It’s all about being able to see and ensuring that other vessels can see you.

‘lackoffishingitis’, take some time to investigate your lighting options, check the tides and pencil in a session on the dark side. Always remember safety first when selecting a location, paddle with a friend when possible, pack your safety kit, select appropriate clothing for the after dark adventure, don’t forget your bug spray and let someone know where you’re heading and when you expect to be home. The aquatic world comes alive after dark and you may be surprised by what you get connected to just metres from your launch point. See you on the water. OCTOBER 2016

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Aquayak Snapper Pro Kayak BRISBANE

Justin Willmer Find me on Facebook at Yaks On

Aquayak are a Melbournebased kayak manufacturer, retailer and wholesaler. Australian owned and operated, they offer a range of options from entry level, to fitted out fishing kayaks, single and tandem kayaks, along with all the accessories to get you started. Recently, I launched their Snapper Pro sit-on kayak, fitted out with their Fish Kit, for a day of targeting bream and flathead in a local estuary system. This kayak is easy to handle, for paddlers as young

An intelligent deck layout means everything’s in arm’s reach. SPECIFICATIONS Length: 2.7m Width: 0.79m Weight: 19kg Capacity: 120kg Pricing: $599 + delivery

Fitted out and ready for fishing, the Snapper Pro passed the Evakool test with its roomy rear well. 106

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as eight. With a length of 2.7m, 79cm width and weight under the magic 20kg mark, sturdy carry handles on the nose, tail and each side, it’s a breeze to load, unload and transport to water. It has a capacity of 120kg and easily handled my 90kg+, along

Snapper Pro is ideal for sheltered waters such as rivers, lakes, bays and estuaries. with icebox and fishing gear. On the water, the hull design is impressive for buoyancy, along with speed and tracking. It has very little of the side-to-side zigzagging that similar size kayaks, with

flatter bottoms, are notorious for. In calmer waters, lakes, rivers, bays and estuaries you will find this kayak to be fun, easy to paddle and extremely manoeuvrable. It’s ideal for smaller paddlers. If

you spend time in windier, rougher conditions, check out Aquayak’s other models with more length. The deck of the Snapper Pro is well laid out, with a

Other storage options include a front hatch that allows access to the hull for fitout, or storing additional items that you don’t need to access on the water, such

There are two flush mount rod holders fitted behind the seat for rod, net and gaff storage. An adjustable Railblaza Rod Holder II can be mounted on the included

4 6 5

easy reach. The Snapper Pro also comes complete with a comfortable and supportive seat, paddle leash and a sturdy two-piece paddle, which is a handy option when it comes to storage and transporting gear in smaller vehicles. A bungy paddle holder on the side deck of the kayak makes it easy to store the paddle when it’s time to fish, and handy to adjust your drift angle or position. It was a glassy day when we paddled out, I fitted the four plugs into the cockpit scupper holes, keeping the area nice and dry. In rougher conditions, or playing in the surf, scupper plugs can be removed to make the most of the self-draining feature. Even when the wind came up with the turn of tide, the Snapper Pro still handled well, cutting through the chop without issue. We had a cracker day on the water. We drifted the

large rear well that passed the Evakool test. It snugly fits a 20L icebox for taking a feed out, or bring in a feed home. The bungy cord in the rear well can unclip to secure the icebox, or quickly and easily clip back in place, to secure dry bags and other items.

as car keys. These can be placed in a dry bag and stowed securely. A centre hatch is within easy reach and includes a removable bucket, where bait can be stored out of the sun. Other items like sunscreen and tackle can be secured.

Railblaza StarPort, SidePort, or on the accessory track fitted on either side of the cockpit. Railblaza mounts and accessories are excellent on the Snapper Pro, allowing you to quickly and easily add other accessories and keep all your rods and tools within

For a smaller kayak, the Snapper Pro tracks well.

I stored my landing net in one of the rod holders, my second rod in the Railblaza

FEATURES Comfortable seat, double paddle, four heavyduty handles, two flush rod holders, one Railblaza rod holder II, two storage hatches, two accessories tracks, Railblaza Starport, Railblaza Sideport, large rear tub and a paddle clip. flats for bream and flathead, worked some edges and drains that accounted for more flathead, fishing 2.5” paddletail plastics on 1/4oz jigheads.

1. The roomy rear live well includes a bungy for securing your gear. 2. The hull design is fast, and easily supports its 120kg capacity. 3. The front hatch accesses the hull for fitting out and additional storage. 4. Sturdy carry handles make loading the Snapper Pro a breeze. 5. The accessory tracks, with two included Railblaza mounts, make fitting out simple and flexible. 6. A centre hatch with bucket is handy for storing gear, while scupper holes ensure quick drainage of water.

Snapper Pro is right at home, bream fishing the flats.

mounted in the centre fitted StarPort, and attached my lip grips and Boomerang Tool to the fitted pad eyes. My tackle was in the included

12L dry bag between my feet and a flatty for dinner stayed in the Evakool icebox that fit neatly in the rear well. I was comfortable and had everything at my fingertips for rigging, fishing and landing fish from the Snapper Pro. If you’re looking to get into kayak fishing, check out the range at Aquayak. com. If it’s a smaller, fast and manoeuvrable kayak you want, affordable and set up for fishing, the Snapper Pro with Fish Kit is worth your time.

Want one of these? Price

99 . $ 79

Order today at www.tideapparel.com.au OCTOBER 2016

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Product Profile

Why we’re excited about the new Deeper BRISBANE

Bob Thornton

The has new and

Australian market seen some exciting introductions lately, leading the charge

is that the Pro+ connects via WiFi rather than by Bluetooth. What this means is that you get more range. For the Pro+, that’s up to 100m of horizontal range, and looking underwater it will give you 80m of depth-finding capability. In

the GPS enabled one will be useful to anyone bank fishing. You can actually cast this out into your chosen waterway, and it will map the area as you wind it back! So, with all this in mind, we decided we’d

could get the device set up, find some bass school and convert those fish arches into landed fish, you’d probably be strapped finding someone who couldn’t! On that day, we even switched off the regular sounder and relied solely on the Deeper ’s fishfinding capabilities! For our field testing day of the Deeper Pro+ at Hinze Dam in South East Queensland, we were blessed with beautiful weather. Once we’d launched, we spent a few minutes setting it up. We were all keen to crack back into some chunky

The Fishing Monthly team had a lot of fun marking bass on the Deeper unit and catching them. is the second generation of Deeper Fishfinders. The latest version, the Deeper Pro+, took out the John Dunphy Inovation award at the AFTA Trade show on the Gold Coast this year, and when you

most waterways, that will be plenty. The other exciting new feature is a faster ping rate on the new units. The old Deeper pinged at eight times per second, whereas the Pro+ pings at 15 times

pick one up and see if they work or not! ON THE WATER We’d previously tested out the first generation Deeper the year before.On that day, we were tagging a bass in the unpressured and

Hinze was the perfect testing field for the Deeper set to ‘Boat Mode’. Simon from ABT was more than impressed with the capabilities of the little black ball. Hinze bass, but there was just a few bits of admin we needed to sort before we got to that. To set up your Deeper Pro+, firstly, we had to download the Deeper app from the app store. Secondly, we had to register the app (when you’re doing this, make sure you’re in an area where you have Internet access). Lastly, we had to pair the WiFi on Editor Steve’s phone to the WiFi on the Deeper.

Once we’d completed these tasks, which only took about 10 minutes, we switched the Deeper over to ‘Boat Mode’, and immediately, we saw fish showing on Steve’s iPhone! We were situated – now it was time to get stuck into some bass! Steve decided that these fish would probably be receptive to an ice jig, so with his smartphone mounted to the rod blank with the very simple rod

mount the Deeper Pro+ comes with, it was possible to fish the jig and watch the fish on his phone! We decided to trail the unit off the back, and we tied it to the end of a heavy swimbait rod. It’s pretty handy to not have to keep glancing down at a sounder, since it’s already mounted on your rod blank! In about 20 seconds, Steve was on. Immediately after the capture, the bass started schooling in big

Steve loves cracking back into a few bass! The smartphone mount made watching the fish shows while fishing very easy. look at the specs, it’s no wonder why. For those who don’t already know, the Deeper is a sonar encapsulated in a floating ball that tethers to your smart phone to give you sonar functionality. The main difference between the Pro+ and the original 108

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per second. The really cool thing though, is that they can actually map the area that you’re fishing. There’s a GPS enabled Deeper, and a non-GPS enabled one. The non-GPS enabled version will tether to your smartphone’s GPS, but

usually out of bounds lower Lake Samsonvale in South East Queensland. While it wasn’t challenging to both find and catch those bass, we were able to prove just how easy they are to use! If a couple of technologically challenged bumpkins

On the display, you can see the map on the left, and some bass stacked up in about 15ft on the right!

Product Profile numbers under the boat as they so often do, and we enjoyed a great deep bite on Hinze Dam! Even Matt the cameraman got stuck in. What was really cool was that while we fished, the Deeper Pro+ was busy mapping the area. With this map, it painted a picture

as to where the fish were actually sitting. We found that the bass were sitting on an edge between 15-20ft, and this really helped with cracking a pattern. We were fishing out of a small fibre gtlass electic boat, but anyone using kayaks, float tubes,

stand-up paddle boards, even fully kitted out bass boats, will find a lot of use for the Deeper Pro+. Even if you don’t have a lot of use for them, they are pretty damn interesting to play with, and can spill the beans about a spot you think you’ve known well

Simon releases a better than average Hinze bass while the Deeper transducer bobs out the back of the boat.

for years! FROM THE BANK After all the fun on Hinze Dam, it was time to test out some of the bank fishing capabilities of the new Deeper unit. We caught up with Tim Morgan from Rapala VMC Australia, who are the distributor of Deeper in Australia, and he took us through just what it could do. Our venue for the day was a pond to the south of Brisbane, and our plan was to map it from the shore. Mapping only works from the bank if you are using the Pro+. To get set up for mapping from the bank, you need to go into ‘Settings’. From here, you need to select ‘Sonar Mode’, and then ‘Onshore GPS Mode’. It will split the screen to give you a view below the water on the right side, and a map on the left. The Deeper Pro+, being water-activated, will only start mapping when it’s in the water, meaning it will save battery and is incredibly efficient. There are three attachment points on the new unit. The top one is for when you’re just dangling it from a boat, the middle one is for when you’re bank fishing from a high platform, and the lowest one

is for casting, which is what we were using on this day. Our aim was to produce a full bathymetric map of the lake, and we did so in just under a hour. Once you have made a map, you can save it if you want, and then overlay it to really study it if you so desire. Here’s a few tips if you plan to map waterways from the bank. We found that you need a fairly heft rod if you want to huck this thing out a fair way. On testing day, Steve was using his long heavy swimbait rod, and Tim was using a medium spin rod. Tim found he had to lob the Deeper, and achieved around half the distance Steve was getting. Something worthy of throwing cod or big barramundi lures is an outift to consider if you want to map largr waterways regularly with your Deeper. You should remember that the Deeper Pro+ won’t map anything shallower than 3ft. This isn’t usually a problem, because this water is most often ignored for fishing, and in clear water you can probably see the bottom anyway. Another thing we found is that it tends to hold a better connection if your smartphone is on your person or mounted on the rod. Lastly, it’s worth waiting a few seconds after the

Deeper lands in the water for it to connect. This only takes about five seconds at the most. TRY IT YOURSELF! If you’re a bank-based angler who wants to see what’s really under the water where you’re fishing, or you have a vessel and don’t want to spend money on multiple units, the Deeper Pro+ is a great option for you. If you want more info about the Deeper range, you can visit www.buydeeper. com and it will tell you everything you need to know, including where you can buy one! This latest bound in technology is such an exciting one for anglers wanting that extra edge, and we hope you can have just as much fun with your Deeper as we did with ours... well, Steve’s – he nicked off with this one! VIDEO

Scan this QR code to see Steve Morgan talking about the Deeper on the water.

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The unique 4.5 Island Hopper from Cross Country

BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

It’s not often that you come across fibreglass boats as light as the Cross Country range. Whereas conventional glass craft are manufactured via layers of hand-laid fibreglass bonded with resin, the Cross Country range are different, with vacuuminfused glass bonded to a very tough, sealed foam core. The unique construction imparts both lightness and superb strength, resulting in the 4.5m Island Hopper’s hull weighing only 135kg. Think of that: a bay/estuary rig with a length of 4.5m, beam of 1.8m and with a side height of 640mm tipping the scales so gently. Construction is solid: there’s a bottom thickness of 24mm linked to sides and upper sections of 18mm thickness. The test boat, with its clinker-styled hull design, has been designed as a car topper, but the same hull can just as readily be set up on a trailer. As a bonus, there’s an inbuilt Keel Guard to prevent wear and tear at the ramp or on a trailer. AN UNUSUAL HULL The 4.5m Island Hopper has a lapstrake (clinker built) hull, which is something you don’t see very often these days. The term ‘lapstrake’ refers to an old, time-proven method of wooden boat construction. The wooden planks overlap each other along the sides of the boat, descending from the top of gunwales to the connection 110

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with the hull bottom. This construction looked brilliant and worked well, but it was always a laborious process because it required accurate overlay and fitting of the timber. Because the Island Hopper is a moulded, one-piece unit, its lapstrakestyle hull delivers every advantage of this traditional, svelte design. Each side’s strake-like mouldings are carried through under the hull to enhance both stability at rest and lift underway. Looking much like a standard punt when viewed from the side, the Island Hopper’s under section consists of a fairly shallow vee aft with very big moulded strakes running to a fine and well-formed bow section. It did an excellent job of ironing out chop without undue jarring. STABILITY ASSURED Back at the ramp at Toorbul, the Island Hopper slid off its temporary trailer and sat level in around 12cm of water. Climbing into the Cross Country from a pontoon, I immediately noticed how stable the boat was; this thing just would not lean! Without doubt those big strakes under the ultralight hull were doing their job in resisting any tendency to lean, as would the hull’s inbuilt ballast tank, which held 80L of water at rest. Seated comfortably up front was John Hall of Cross Country Boats kicked the Suzuki 30 tiller steer into gear, I was impressed by the boat’s overall roominess. Other attractive features included storage compartments up front under

a generously large casting deck, and another full-width platform astern set up with a live bait well/esky to port and a fuel tank compartment in the centre. The test craft belonged to a customer who uses it as a car topper. It came equipped with a side console for a sounder, which was the sole extra apart from a bicycle seat up front. A bow mount 55lb Motor Guide was fitted for the test run, and it did a brilliant job of powering the craft given its light weight. DESIGN AND LAYOUT Before looking at performance, I’ll touch on some things that also impressed me about the Cross Country. Firstly, its light weight was a huge bonus and so was the liberal use of SeaDek on all the upper areas. SeaDek is a rubberised coating that you stick to the deck. It has a super strong adhesive and provides an attractive non-skid surface. As well as putting SeaDek on the deck, the owner also stuck some on the underside of the seat. When placed on the SeaDekcovered foredeck, the seat stayed firmly in place when I sat on it. It’s a good idea – it means you have the freedom to move the seat to other areas of the boat without

worrying about seat spigots, which saves weight. Another good feature was the hatch hinges. Hatches in boats (unless strut equipped) always seem to want to drop down while you’re busy locating or removing an important item. The Island Hopper, on the other hand, had friction hinges. They could still be readily closed or opened, but they stayed open – even half open – without any tendency to annoyingly close. It’s a good example of the attention to detail on this boat. Last but not least was the sheer practicality of this craft. Up front, a big hatchcovered anchor well was installed ahead of a very large under-floor storage compartment. Because of the slight overhang of the deck up front, the Motor Guide was fitted straight to the deck, doing away with the need for a side mounting point. On the test rig, a bicycle-style seat was one of many options available. The non-skid floor of the craft was clean, uncluttered and large enough for at least three anglers to enjoy their fishing thanks to 3.86m x 1.65m of work room. GREAT PERFORMANCE FROM 30 SUZUKI Up and running the Island

Hopper was a very easy and predictable craft. It may have been lightweight, but rough riding or inclined to pound it certainly was not. The hull’s excellent design, centred around those big under-hull strakes and a really well formed bow with a lot of vee in it saw us whizzing over wash from passing boats in the Bribie Passage with only the slightest lift of the bow accompanied by a gentle bump. There was absolutely no pounding or noise, just a gentle slap of water on fibreglass to show for our efforts. Sensibly, engines are rated from 20-30hp for the car topper. Why overpower a small boat? I enjoyed some very entertaining test runs, which proved to me just how well the craft handled (great for mangrove creek work) and that the water ballast under the hull didn’t stop the craft from jumping onto the plane in about two boat lengths. The 30 Suzuki 4-stroke with its smooth and seemingly endless power would be ideal for two or three people aboard the standard rig as tested. The performance figures achieved were: plane at 10.4km/h, cruise sweetly at 28km/h, near full speed (limited by a new engine) at 47.5km/h. There’s no real need to go faster. OVERVIEW After having a very enjoyable time aboard the Cross Country Island Hopper, I give the Cross Country team full marks for a very well turned out and well performing craft. Some people might like to think of these ultra-light

rigs as tenders, or best suited to being carried atop a vehicle, but the reality is that they compete very favourably with similarsized glass and alloy craft of a similar size. Options for the Island Hopper include an under floor 60L fuel tank, rod holders, rod lockers, step up full size kill tank, side or centre console, deck wash and many other items. Because of ride quality, willing performance from limited power, ample work room and good stability, the Cross Country Island Hopper with the 30 Suzuki is suited to a host of fishing situations and applications. I really was impressed with this rig. There’s a safety aspect as well. Thanks to the flotation material used in construction, these craft are totally unsinkable and rated for level flotation. The finish was also very good, and the list of available additional features was impressive. A cartop hull can be purchased from $14,900, and a trailer version from $22,900. The boat as reviewed with electric motor, trailer and 30 Suzuki would come home for $34,350. Cross Country Boats can be contacted on 0410 090 317 or 07 5499 3155, and are based at Caboolture in South East Queensland. • Quoted performance figures have been supplied by the writer in good faith. Performance of individual boat/motor/ trailer packages may differ due to variations in engine installations, propellers, hull configurations, options, hull loading and trailer specifications.

This boat can be thrown about in fast turns to virtually recover on its length – great for mangrove creek work.

The SeaDek material provides an attractive, non-skid surface. It also grips onto other SeaDek surfaces, such as on the underside of this seat.

A very clean and uncluttered work area is a feature of this craft.

Here you can see the Island Hopper’s large under-hull strakes. This is certainly no standard punt.

An under-hull ballast system works well with the Island Hopper.

Big storage up front is a feature of this boat, and the friction hinges are excellent as well.

Sounders are a part of today’s fishing, and a mini console was provided for mounting one.

This photo gives you an idea of the stability and work area of the Island Hopper. OCTOBER 2016

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Waverider 450 tiller – more than meets the eye

FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

The Sunshine Coast’s Pat Jones has been fascinated by boats his whole life. You may know him from his successful product, the Kapten Boat Collar, which turns your rock-n-rolling tinnie into a safe and stable fishing platform. He’s also YouTube famous for his surfing a tinnie with a Wave Collar on the bar at the Mooloolah River (search ‘Kapten surfing’ on YouTube) and getting some serious ‘tinnie-air’. His Waverider hull concept, however, came from his desire to build in the features of a Boat Collar into a tinnie itself. Therefore, the Waverider hull – with large, full length, reverse chines – was born. The 4.5m version is the smallest in the Waverider range and it suited to tiller applications up to 50hp. And if you were to read no further in this test, let me outline the three standout features of this rig, which is Pat’s own fishing machine. 112

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Firstly, of course, is the stability. The reverse chines that generate the stable attitude in the water are 15cm wide at the transom and maintain that width the whole way as they wrap around to the bow – just like the Boat Collar – creating a step-out at the bow. FEATURES • Level flotation • Storage under seats, under front deck and side pockets. • 6 rod holders • Large anchor well • Transom splash boards PERFORMANCE RPM.....................km/h 800.............................4 1000...........................5 2000...........................9 3000......................... 12 4000.........................29 5000.........................39 5150..........................42 5500.........................50 The wide gunwales allow nimble anglers – like Fishing monthly’s own Michael Fox – to easily walk

around the boat at that level, illustrating the ability of this hull. Remember, too, that the beam of this boat is less than 2m. Other manufacturers generate stability by disproportionately increasing beam, which can create ride and trailering problems. Secondly is the build quality. The entire hull is cut from 4mm aluminium sheet and foam filled for level, upright flotation. Apart from the peace-of-mind that the flotation generates, you can hear the solidity of this hull as you drive through a moderate chop. It lands softly and feels solid. No rattles or flexing. Thirdly, there’s the ease of use. Rarely do you see a 4.5m tinnie with a fully customised aluminium trailer. And by that, I mean no adjustable bits. The trailer for this Waverider has all of the skids welded into the correct place and apart from the running gear, there are no moving parts. Gone are the days when it sounds like there’s a flock of budgies following you down the road on the way to the ramp. With the hull recessed between the wheel arches,

the hull sits low enough to drive on and off on even the shallow, cruddy ramps that

suits Pat and his fishing style, but alternative rod storage and holder configurations are

SPECIFICATIONS Length................................................................4.5m Beam................................................................1.97m Chine Beam.....................................................1.70m Chine width......................................................15cm Height..............................................................0.70m Hull Weight......................................................380kg Height on trailer..............................................1.45m Width on trailer...............................................2.26m Capacity....................................................4 persons Max hp...................................................................50 Material.................................. 4mm plate alloy 5083 Fuel......................................................................45L we are used to in Queensland. Believe it or not, that can be a game changer for some purchasers – the ability to keep the partner, fishing buddy or kids dry in areas with minimal facilities is a real plus. There’s a dozen captioned images here showing you through the rig, but if you scan the QR codes hereby with your smartphone you can see the video of the full boat test and Pat’s tour of the boat. We know that from a fishing point of view, this layout won’t suit all anglers. It

available – you just need to start the conversation with the builder. As tested, the rig,

powered by the frugal Suzuki 40, weighs in a $32,900, but consider in your purchase the fact that there’s a custombuilt ally trailer and the build quality in the hull and you can see where the money goes. For more information, visit www.kaptenboats. com.au or call Pat on 0467 506 131. • Quoted performance figures have been supplied by the writer in good faith. Performance of individual boat/motor/ trailer packages may differ due to variations in engine installations, propellers, hull configurations, options, hull loading and trailer specifications.

VIDEO

Scan the QR code to see the full boat test with Steve Morgan and Pat Jones.

Scan to watch an in-depth walk through of the 4.5 Waverider with Pat Jones.

The 40hp Suzuki 4-stroke in this setup won’t break any speed records, but it’s super-quiet, super efficient and easy to drive with electric start and power trim and tilt.

You can see the chines working here – pushing water down and away from the hull.

This is about as simple and comfortable as it gets in a tiller boat. Padded seats with plenty of storage room and the ability to drive left- or right-handed. Yep – some people do it the ‘other’ way.

Pat values his cockpit space and has set his rod holders up the bow and out of his way. Other anglers will prefer alternative storage options. Most are possible in a plate alloy boat.

At the heart of the Waverider 450 is the wide reverse chines that mimic the effectiveness of the Kapten Wave Boat Collar – Pat Jones’ other enterprise.

The Waverider sits low in between the guards to make the drive on/ off process as smooth as possible. Teflon skids are maintenance free and have the added bonus of not sounding like there’s a flock of budgies following you down the road while driving to the ramp.

The under seat storage is half foamfilled. The whole boat floats upright, with four on board, if full of water. If you ever need it, you’ll be happy that it does.

It’s neat when the trailer is custom made for the boat. An aluminium frame and Teflon skids make launch and retrieval ridiculously easy. Big thumbs-up from us here. OCTOBER 2016

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What’s New BOATING

PRECISION FISHING WEAPONS

From the 575HT up to the 780HT, the new design innovations in Bar Crusher’s Fishing Weapon HT series have been carefully considered to enhance your boating and fishing experience. The newly-designed Game Lock gunwale/ sidedeck incorporates a 45° angle on the inner edge which, along with the secure toe-holds, lets you lock yourself into a comfortable and secure position. The Game Lock coaming is now slightly narrower to maximise space, yet is still wide enough to comfortably sit on. New hard top designs are complemented by re-designed rocket launchers and slideopening side windows as standard (670HT, 730HT and 780HT), and there are fresh paint schemes. The bow rails, grab rails and bowsprit have also been upgraded. Bar Crusher has redesigned the dash of the 615HT, 670HT, 730HT and 780HT to accept up to a 16” multi-function display, with plenty of space left over. There’s also a new optional roller-door lockable cabin. For the full list of specs, features and options, visit the Bar Crusher website. www.barcrusher.com.au

J-B WELD ADHESIVES

J-B Weld adhesives bond strongly to a variety of surfaces in even the toughest environments. The range began with the original J-B Weld, developed as an alternative to torch welding. Once it sets, it’s tougher than steel. Another J-B adhesive is called MarineWeld, a chemical and petroleum resistant two-part adhesive and epoxy filler system for strong, lasting repairs. It’s designed to be used on decks, hulls and accessories. It sets in 20 minutes and is fully cured in 15-20 hours. If you have to seal a leak or patch a hole/ crack in wet conditions or underwater, you’ll need WaterWeld. As well as being handy on boats, it’s ideal for repairing plumbing, fuel tanks, potable water tanks and more. After curing, it can be drilled, tapped, filed, sanded and painted. It has a set time of 15-25 minutes and sets hard in one hour. For more info on the range, head to the BLA website. Price: SRP $18.90-$19.30 www.bla.com.au

MERCURY 9.9HP TWOSTROKE

Mercury Marine is introducing a new 9.9hp TwoStroke outboard that is the lightest in its class. Weighing in from just 26kg, the new 169cc model is not only easier to lift and carry than its competitors, its compact design means it’s simple to handle. And an optional push-button electric start model makes it a pleasure to operate for all boaters – young or old. It also features loop charge combustion, which delivers reliable performance and better fuel economy. Trips will also be more enjoyable, with through-prop exhaust reducing engine noise for a quieter boating experience. As with all outboards in Mercury’s extensive line-up – from 2.5 through to 400hp – the new 9.9hp TwoStroke benefits from superior anti-corrosion protection. Owners will gain additional peace of mind knowing that Mercury’s extensive service network will always be there to provide product and customer support. www.mercurymarine.com.au

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

SAVAGE RAPTORS

After retiring the Jabiru range, Savage has filled the gap for budget-friendly tinnies by releasing the Raptor range with 355, 395 and 425 models. All are full of useful features at the right size and the right price. Standard features include a glove box, drink holders, transom handles and plenty of storage, and options include bimini and envelope, rod holders and a carpeted floor. With front and rear seats, the Raptors can comfortably fit up to four people. These boats can be easily towed behind a family car and will also fit nicely atop most utes. Savage National Account Manager Jason Draeger said the models and options available in the Raptor range means there’s a boat to suit any backyard or budget. “We have developed the Raptor range to offer customers affordable, reliable, nofuss tinnies,” he said. “The Raptors can be used for fishing, as a tender or for taking the family on fun adventures.” www.savageboats.com.au

QUINTREX SEA SPIRIT

Whether you like fishing, family cruising or skiing, a Quintrex Sea Spirit cabin boat will work for you. The entire range (510, 530 and 570) now comes with 3mm topsides and 4mm bottomsides as standard, and can handle a variety of conditions thanks to the Quintrex Blade Hull. Quintrex National Account Manager Cameron Wood said these versatile boats will please the entire family. “For fishos, the aluminium side pockets and rod holders hold all your fishing gear while the large side decks are comfortable to sit on and lean against when reeling in your catch,” he said. “For the laid back boaties, the rear lounge is perfect for relaxing and taking in the sun but it can also be folded up to create extra deck space while fishing. “You can also option up the Sea Spirit to include ski hooks, ski pole and hydraulic steering.” www.quintrex.com.au

DESALT BEATS RUST

Desalt is a simple cleaning and protective product that safely dissolves salt from all surfaces, including when used as a boat engine flush. It can even remove surface rust and act as a retardant, preventing rust from forming. This is a great value marine cleaner specifically designed to protect valuable assets from the corrosive sea and salt air. It is specially formulated to help dissolve salt deposits in boat engines and cleans other exposed bits (with a sparkle) including your trailer, kayak, car and fishing tackle. In fact, anything that comes into contact with the corrosive nature of the marine environment can be washed down by using Desalt. This water based product is non-toxic, biodegradable and PH neutral. For easy application you can use the Desalt Dispenser. Just add 50ml Desalt to the Dispenser and then attach it to a garden hose. The dispenser can also easily be attached to your outboard or flush port on your engine. Price: SRP $44.95 (2L), $39.95 (dispenser) www.whitworths.com.au

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HURRY OFFER ENDS 25TH NOV, 2016 mercurymarine.com.au *Terms & conditions apply. Savings are based on RRP including recommended Rigging Kits and subject to change without notice. Prices exclude local freight charges, fit up and local statutory charges. Offer available on selected new consumer FourStroke outboards from 2.5 to 115hp FourStroke purchased from participating dealers till 25th November 2016. Ask your participating Mercury dealer for full list of models in the program. Offer is subject to availability and engines must be 2014 build onwards and installed and registered by no later than 3rd Feb, 2017. Offer not to be used in conjunction with any other offer or rebates.